Kamisan protesters write letters of support for Andrie Yunus: Thank you for your struggle thus far

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The 28th anniversary of Reformasi, marked by Aksi Kamisan #908 held opposite the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, 21 May 2026, was coloured by a solidarity movement in support of KontraS activist Andrie Yunus.

Hundreds of demonstrators appeared enthusiastic as they wrote letters of support directly for Andrie, who is still receiving medical treatment after being sprayed with caustic water by TNI personnel.

The initiator of the solidarity letter drive, Satya from Amnesty International Indonesia, said the gathering of physical letters was the first time it had been conducted offline, taking advantage of the Reformasi anniversary.

‘We want to mobilise solidarity letters for Andrie Yunus who is currently being treated because he was sprayed with caustic water by members of the TNI. We know the damage and pain involved are very severe. So we want to invite the public to offer encouragement to Andrie so he recovers more quickly and regains his spirit,’ Satya told Kompas.com at the scene on Thursday.

Satya added that he and civil society groups feel indebted for Andrie’s dedication over the years.

After all, Andrie is known as an activist who vocally expresses the public’s demands and supports oppressed people.

‘So I think this is the time for us as the people to reciprocate solidarity with Andrie, to support him,’ he said.

The hundreds of physical letters will later be handed to Andrie through a KontraS representative.

Previously, similar online support had been said to provide a positive psychological impact for Andrie.

‘We have already given it to him, and it made him happy because he is quite isolated as he undergoes treatment, and he knows that there are many people supporting him, so that lifted his spirits,’ Satya explained.

One of the letters came from Ale (21), a student at the Jakarta National Veteran Development University (UPNVJ).

Ale said he wrote a fairly long message containing thanks and prayers that Andrie would recover well.

‘What matters is the message of thanks for fighting this far, even though the price Bang Andrie has paid is very high. And above all, it is hope—may God ease and facilitate all paths of recovery and revival,’ Ale said.