Gerakan Nurani Bangsa Demands Thorough Investigation into Caustic Acid Attack
Jakarta — Gerakan Nurani Bangsa (GNB) has expressed profound concern over an acid attack on Andrie Yunus, Vice-Coordinator of KontraS, and has urged police authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly.
“This is a shocking and deeply concerning attack. This incident is not merely a personal assault, but rather terror directed at all of us who desire the rule of law and human rights to prevail,” said GNB member Rev. Gomar Gultom in Jakarta on Saturday.
The acid attack occurred as Andrie Yunus was leaving the recording of a podcast. On his way home, the victim was forced off the road by two motorcycles before being sprayed with caustic acid by the assailant. The attack resulted in reported burns covering approximately 24 per cent of the victim’s body, including his eyes.
According to Gomar, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the vicinity and traffic monitoring data from the Department of Transportation indicate signs of a systematically planned attack.
“Just before the incident, traffic appeared extremely congested, but it suddenly became sparse when the attack occurred and immediately afterwards. This raises suspicion that someone deliberately regulated traffic conditions around the location,” he said.
Gomar stated he knows Andrie as a brave and consistent human rights activist dedicated to advancing the rule of law and human rights in Indonesia. He noted that the victim is known for being vocal on various issues, including his involvement in civil society coalitions conducting independent investigations into numerous incidents.
For this reason, Gomar argued that the attack on Andrie cannot be viewed as a personal matter, but rather as a threat to democratic space and freedom of expression.
Gomar called on police authorities to investigate the case thoroughly to identify the intellectual masterminds behind it, not merely the field operatives. He also cautioned that the investigation should not end with the direct perpetrators alone, comparing it to the acid attack on anti-corruption investigator Novel Baswedan several years ago.
“Impunity cannot be tolerated. Police must investigate to identify the intellectual actors behind this incident,” he said.
Furthermore, he requested that authorities provide security protection to citizens, particularly groups that have been voicing criticism of various public policies.
According to him, public criticism should be viewed as a form of concern for the nation’s future. Gomar also urged the President to give serious attention to the incident and ensure the state guarantees a transparent and comprehensive investigation process.
“The state must ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.
He added that the incident should not weaken the spirit of human rights advocates in their pursuit of legal supremacy and the fulfilment of human rights for all citizens.
Gerakan Nurani Bangsa is an association of cross-religious figures, intellectuals, and activists that actively promotes moral and humanitarian values in Indonesia. Its members include prominent national figures such as Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Quraish Shihab, Fr. Franz Magnis-Suseno, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Alissa Wahid, and Rev. Gomar Gultom.