Indonesian Lawyers' Association Demands Police Chief Thoroughly Investigate Caustic Acid Attack on Human Rights Activist

The Legal Aid Centre of the Indonesian Lawyers’ Association (PBH AAI) Jakarta Timur has strongly condemned the caustic acid attack on human rights activist and lawyer Andrie Yunus, Vice Coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). The incident is considered a serious threat to democracy in Indonesia.

PBH AAI is urging President Prabowo Subianto to immediately order Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to conduct a thorough investigation into the case down to its roots. Andrie Yunus suffered serious burn injuries to multiple parts of his body, including his face and eyes.

Head of the AAI Jakarta Timur Board of Management, Mapajanci Ridwan Saleh, emphasised that the attack is a barbaric act and a serious violation of human rights. “This is a barbaric act and a threat to democracy,” stated Mapajanci at a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday, 15 March.

According to Mapajanci, the attack appears to have been meticulously planned. This is evident from the perpetrators’ ability to flee quickly and leave no trace, which is why their identity has not yet been revealed. The attack is seen as an attempt to silence the critical human rights activist and lawyer Andrie Yunus, who holds opposing views to those in power and the wealthy.

State Obligations

Secretary of the AAI Jakarta Timur Board, Foor Good Manik, reminded authorities that the state has a constitutional obligation to provide security to all citizens, as stipulated in Article 28G Paragraphs (1) and (2) of the 1945 Constitution.

“This is the state’s responsibility. Therefore, all state instruments must work to uncover who the perpetrators and masterminds of the caustic acid attack are,” said Foor Good Manik.

Demand for Scientific Crime Investigation

Director of PBH AAI Jakarta Timur, Marulitua Rajagukguk, called on the Police Chief to deploy all available resources. He emphasised the importance of using modern investigative methods in handling this case.

“The Police Chief must deploy all resources available to conduct investigations scientifically using scientific crime investigation methods, so that the police are truly felt by the community,” said Marulitua.

He warned that the police’s failure to solve this case would damage the credibility of the institution in the eyes of the public. “If the police are unable to resolve the caustic acid attack case, it will reduce public confidence in the police, and human rights defenders, lawyers and activists fighting for the poor and marginalised will be haunted by fear and insecurity,” he stressed.

Key Recommendations

As concrete steps, PBH AAI Jakarta Timur has submitted several main demands, including requesting the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to form a Fact-Finding Team on the caustic acid attack to uncover the scenario and masterminds behind it in accordance with Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights.

President Prabowo Subianto has issued a direct order to Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to thoroughly investigate the attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. The perpetrator was captured on CCTV footage.