Inter-Faith Leaders Across Central Java Condemn Acid Attack on KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus

Inter-faith religious leaders across Central Java Province have condemned the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, Vice Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). They have called on the state, particularly law enforcement authorities, to conduct a thorough investigation into the case.

Coordinated by the Inter-Faith Brotherhood (Pelita) Semarang, inter-faith leaders across Central Java, including human rights activists, gathered at Tanah Putih Vihara in Semarang on Monday, 16 March 2026. They came together to voice strong condemnation of the attack against Andrie Yunus.

Those present at Tanah Putih Vihara included Vice Chair of the Theravada Buddhist Council of Indonesia Central Java Chapter Pandit Aggadhammo Suwarto, Chair of the Commission for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (KKPKC) Semarang Diocese Father Ratmo, Chair of the Fellowship of Christian Churches in Semarang City Reverend Rahmat Raja Gukguk, Chair of the Confucian Religious Council of Indonesia Semarang City Lukito, representatives of the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB) Central Java Province leadership, and others.

Also present were several human rights advocates, including Director of Semarang Legal Aid Bureau Ahmad Syamsuddin Arief, Chair of Community Empowerment Foundation (YPK) eLSA Semarang Tedi Kholiludin, and Director of LRC KJHAM Witi Muntari. Prior to the reading of a joint statement, Tedi Kholiludin delivered opening remarks.

He stated that the acid attack on Andrie Yunus was not ordinary violence but rather an act of terrorism. For this reason, Tedi emphasised the importance of law enforcement authorities investigating and thoroughly uncovering the case.

“Because once again, this is not an ordinary case. This is about criminalisation occurring against human rights defenders. Andrie Yunus yesterday, today it could be us, or next month perhaps colleagues who are fighting for human rights may well become the next victims,” said Tedi.

Tedi revealed that the acid attack against Andrie Yunus also carried a message tinged with threats. “By attacking Andrie, perhaps the intellectual actors behind this want to say, ‘If you do what Andrie did, you will become like him’. This is the message being conveyed through this terror against Andrie Yunus,” he said.

“From a democratic perspective, this terrorism is not merely ordinary criminality, but rather a serious threat that pushes democracy backwards to the time when we were under the Suharto regime, constituting a betrayal of reform and so forth,” Tedi added.

Pelita Semarang Coordinator Setyawan Budy stated that the event at Tanah Putih Vihara was attended by inter-faith leaders across Central Java. He revealed that they gathered because they were concerned about the acid attack against Andrie Yunus. “This violates human norms,” he stated.

Setyawan reminded that the attack against Andrie Yunus occurred during Ramadhan and when the Hindu community was preparing to commemorate Nyepi. “This also wounds us as people of faith,” he said.