GMPK Supports Puspom TNI's Firm Action in Naming Suspects in Sulphuric Acid Attack Case
The swift action by the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ Military Police Centre (Puspom TNI) in uncovering the suspected sulphuric acid attack on Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Andrie Yunus has yielded significant results. The military authorities have officially named rogue TNI members as suspects in the case that had captured public attention.
This naming of suspects is seen as a positive signal for legal reform within the military. Cross-sector coordination and the transparency shown by TNI Headquarters are considered distinguishing factors in handling violence cases involving officials.
Chairman of the Jakarta Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of the National Student and Youth Movement (GMPK), Asip Irama, has given high appreciation for Puspom TNI’s performance. He views this firm step as proof that the slogan ‘TNI Together with the People’ is realised through impartial rule of law.
“We from GMPK highly appreciate the quick and firm action by Puspom TNI. Naming a suspect from within demonstrates the strong commitment of the TNI Commander to cleanse the institution of individuals who betray the people’s trust,” said Asip in a written statement on Thursday (19/3).
Asip emphasised that the TNI’s speed in identifying the perpetrator and disclosing it to the public is a form of transparency worthy of thumbs up. According to him, Puspom TNI has successfully broken the sceptical stigma in society regarding the handling of legal cases involving rogue officials.
In addition to Puspom’s performance, GMPK specifically highlighted the central role of the TNI’s Head of Information Centre (Kapuspen) in communicating case developments clearly. The current communication style of Kapuspen TNI is seen as reflecting the figure of a future senior officer who is responsive to the public.
For GMPK, the institution’s courage in acknowledging the involvement of rogue members without covering up facts is a knightly step. The transparency shown now is considered far more advanced and bold, which will ultimately strengthen the TNI’s position in the eyes of the younger generation as a credible and accountable institution.
Previously, Puspom TNI moved quickly by detaining four TNI members serving in the Headquarters Detachment of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (Denma BAIS). The four suspects, initialled NDP, SL, BWH, and ES, are now held in the Jayapura Military District Detention Centre with super maximum security status.
The Puspom TNI Commander, Major General Yusri Nuryanto, assured that the case handling is being carried out professionally and transparently.
“Puspom TNI will work professionally, and transparently, so that in the subsequent stages, we will continue to invite the media,” said Yusri at TNI Headquarters, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (18/3).
Currently, the four TNI personnel are threatened with Article 467 of the Criminal Code, with a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. Puspom TNI promises to convey developments on the motive and autopsy results periodically to the public. (Ant/P-2)