Indonesian Military Investigates Alleged Involvement of Soldiers in Acid Attack on KontraS Activist
Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters has officially opened an internal investigation into the acid attack case that befell Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). This step was taken as a swift response to the growing public opinion regarding the alleged involvement of rogue security personnel in the incident.
Head of the TNI Information Centre, Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, emphasised that this internal audit aims to ensure the institution’s professionalism and address public doubts.
“We are responding to the opinions circulating in society. Therefore, we must conduct an internal investigation,” Aulia stated in Jakarta on Tuesday night (17/3).
Transparency and Professionalism
The investigation is assured to proceed across units to guarantee objectivity. Aulia promised that the entire process will be conducted openly in accordance with applicable military legal procedures.
“We will be professional and carry it out transparently. That means in line with the regulations in the TNI environment,” he stressed. He added that the results from the joint internal team will later be conveyed openly to the public.
“It will be carried out by relevant TNI personnel. Because this will certainly involve several units,” he added.
Alleged Intellectual Actors
On the other hand, the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), acting as the victim’s legal representatives, views this attack as more than ordinary criminality. TAUD representative Fadhil Alfathan believes there is a structured planning behind the action. “We also believe there is an alleged intellectual actor,” Fadhil said.
Fadhil explained that the attack on Andrie was carried out in an organised manner, from the surveillance stage to field execution. He urged the police not to focus solely on the perpetrators captured on CCTV footage.
“We ask the police not to focus only on the direct perpetrators, but also to uncover those who planned it,” he asserted.
Police Investigation
Meanwhile, the General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Metro Jaya Regional Police reported significant progress. So far, police have identified four individuals strongly suspected of monitoring the victim’s movements before the acid attack occurred.
“We will continue to strive and exert maximum effort,” stated the Director of General Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Regional Police, Commissioner Iman Imanuddin.
This tragic incident occurred on Thursday night (12/3) in Central Jakarta, shortly after Andrie Yunus attended a discussion. KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya explained that the attack caused fatal physical impacts on the victim.
“It resulted in serious injuries across the body, particularly on the right and left hands, face, chest, and eye area,” Dimas clarified. Based on medical examination, Andrie suffered burns covering 24 percent of his body and is currently undergoing intensive treatment.