Human Rights Minister Demands Police Investigate Attack on Activist

The Minister for Human Rights Natalius Pigai has condemned a terror attack against Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026. Andrie was doused with caustic liquid by two unknown individuals on Jalan Salemba I-Talang, central Jakarta. The two assailants arrived on a motorcycle from the opposite direction. In addition to condemning the attack, Pigai also demanded that the authorities conduct a thorough investigation.

“I have condemned this action and requested that the authorities investigate thoroughly,” Pigai stated in a message to Tempo on 13 March 2026.

KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya stated that the perpetrators sprayed caustic acid onto the front of Andrie’s body. After this, Andrie collapsed onto the road. “The victim immediately screamed in pain and dropped his motorcycle,” said Dimas on Friday, 13 March 2026.

Dimas explained that prior to the incident, Andrie had just finished recording a podcast titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the offices of the Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) in central Jakarta, at approximately 11.00 pm local time on Thursday evening. After that, the victim stopped at a petrol station in the Cikini area of central Jakarta. He then continued his journey by motorcycle.

At approximately 11.37 pm, two individuals suspected to be male, riding an automatic motorcycle, approached Andrie. The two then sprayed caustic acid in Andrie’s direction. The corrosive chemical liquid hit the right side of Andrie’s body, including his eyes, face, chest, and hands.

Portions of the victim’s clothing also melted from contact with the caustic acid. Medical examination results showed that Andrie sustained severe chemical burns covering 24 per cent of his body. The victim screamed in pain and mentioned the caustic acid, which caused several residents to gather at the scene.

The alleged perpetrators dropped a stainless steel glass while attempting to flee. The assailants are believed to have escaped towards Jalan Salemba Raya in central Jakarta. Andrie Yunus is currently receiving intensive care at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta.