GNB: Attack on Kontras Activist is an Attack on Us All
Jakarta — Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Andrie Yunus, became the victim of an acid attack by unidentified assailants. The assault has drawn condemnation from various quarters, including the National Conscience Movement (GNB).
Reverend Gomar Gultom of GNB stated he was shocked and deeply troubled by the incident affecting Andrie. He characterised the attack not as targeting an individual, but rather as terror directed against civil society struggling for the enforcement of law and human rights (HAM).
“This attack is surely not personal in nature. This is an attack against all of us who desire the establishment of law and human rights,” said Gomar in a statement on Friday (13 March 2026).
According to him, the incident occurred after Andrie had completed recording a podcast discussing “remilitarisation and judicial review in Indonesia”. While returning home in the evening, Andrie was trapped between two vehicles before ultimately being doused with acid.
The attack resulted in burns covering approximately 24 per cent of Andrie’s body, including his eyes.
Gomar assessed that field evidence indicates the attack was allegedly conducted in a planned manner. Based on CCTV recordings from the surrounding area and monitoring from cameras operated by the Transportation Service, traffic that had previously been congested suddenly became deserted when the incident occurred.
“From CCTV footage in the surrounding area and from the Transportation Service, it is clear this was a systematic attack and not merely carried out by the second motorcycle rider. Just before the incident, traffic was very congested, but suddenly became quiet during the acid attack and afterwards. Clearly someone was managing traffic in this manner,” he said.
Gomar described his acquaintance with Andrie as a steadfast human rights activist who is courageous in advocating for law enforcement in Indonesia. Andrie, he noted, is known for vocally raising various human rights issues and is active in civil society coalitions conducting independent investigations into various major cases.
For this reason, GNB is urging police to thoroughly investigate the case through to the intellectual architects behind the attack.
He also cautioned that this case should not end like the acid attack against investigator Novel Baswedan, which was deemed not to have fully uncovered the primary masterminds behind the incident.
“Do not stop at the perpetrators on the ground as happened with Novel Baswedan in the past,” said Gomar.
Furthermore, GNB also requested that security forces provide protection to the public, particularly those who voice criticism of social and political situations.
According to Gomar, public critical voices should be viewed as a form of love for the nation’s future.
“It is time we also called upon the President to give serious attention to this incident. The state must provide full assurance of a thorough investigation. The state must also more seriously guarantee that the same incident does not recur,” he said.
Gomar expressed hope that the incident would not dampen the enthusiasm of human rights activists in advocating for the rule of law and the fulfilment of human rights for all citizens.
“I fully support civil society’s efforts to conduct independent investigations into this act of violence,” he said.