Human Rights Commission Urged to Classify Andrie Yunus Case as Gross Human Rights Violation

The legal team for Andrie Yunus is urging the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to designate the acid attack on Andrie as a gross human rights violation. “We wish to convey that the National Human Rights Commission must promptly conduct a pro justitia investigation into the gross human rights violation,” stated Andrie Yunus’s legal representative, Airlangga Julio, at Komnas HAM in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3). “Because up to now, Komnas HAM is still conducting monitoring and investigation of the human rights violation as usual based on the Human Rights Law,” he added. The call to elevate the investigation’s status is based on findings by the advocacy team regarding the pattern of the attack on Andrie. Airlangga explained that the violence case is strongly suspected to be premeditated and involves the role of state intelligence institutions with a structured chain of command, so it cannot be equated with ordinary criminal acts. “Considering the structured elements clearly carried out by the Strategic Intelligence Agency, which has been acknowledged by the institution itself, there is a command, and it was done systematically. And this is also part of a series of attacks on those who carry out human rights defence work in Indonesia,” Airlangga emphasised. Given indications of state actor involvement, the legal team also highlighted coordination obstacles and lack of transparency among law enforcement institutions handling the case. “We can see that between the two institutions, TNI and Police, there is tension and unclear information, lack of transparency, and many procedural law violations occurring,” Airlangga said. Therefore, the formation of an independent fact-finding team is deemed highly necessary to mediate the investigation process and ensure the case is adjudicated through the civilian corridor. “Thus, it is urgent to form a joint independent fact-finding team that can re-examine this case, which should be resolved through the general court and uncover the power structure and command that occurred in the Andrie Yunus case,” Airlangga stated. Andrie became the victim of an attack by unidentified persons who threw acid at him on Thursday night (12/3). The acid splashing caused injuries to his hands and feet as well as vision impairment. A few days later, four TNI BAIS members—Captain TNI NDP, First Lieutenant TNI SL, First Lieutenant TNI BHW, and Second Sergeant TNI ES—were named as suspects in the acid attack on Andrie. To date, the four suspected perpetrators are still undergoing examination by the TNI’s internal investigation team. As a result of the case’s investigation, the Head of TNI BAIS, Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo, has tendered his resignation. The investigation into the acid attack case involving TNI members is still ongoing. Many parties are urging that the case be brought to the general court, not the military court. Metro Jaya Police stated that the handling of the acid attack case against KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus has been handed over to the TNI’s Main Military Police. Meanwhile, Komnas HAM has not yet designated the acid attack on Andrie Yunus as a human rights violation. Komnas HAM Monitoring and Investigation Commissioner Saurlin P Siagian explained that logically in law and common sense, the acid splashing incident against the KontraS Deputy Coordinator actually falls into the category of human rights crimes. “We have not designated it yet, but common sense says, including human rights norms and the definition of human rights and human rights violations in Law 39, it meets the criteria as a human rights violation,” Saurlin said at Komnas HAM in Central Jakarta on Monday (30/3).