Komnas HAM Demands Examination of Former TNI BAIS Chief in Andrie Case
A commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Amiruddin Al Rahab, believes that the resignation of the Head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ (TNI) Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) is insufficient to uphold justice regarding the acid attack on Kontras activist Andrie Yunus.
TNI Headquarters has acknowledged the involvement of four of its soldiers assigned to BAIS TNI in the action. The dismissal of the BAIS Chief is seen as a form of leadership accountability, but Amiruddin states that this step does not yet guarantee the fulfilment of human rights.
The TNI Commander should order the TNI Main Military Police Command (Danpuspom TNI) to examine the dismissed BAIS Chief. The examination is crucial to ensure the degree of involvement and command responsibility of the leadership as well as members who planned, designed, and directly carried out the operation,” said Amiruddin in his statement on Thursday, 27 March 2026.
Amiruddin emphasised the importance of openness and access for Komnas HAM in the process. According to him, the TNI Commander must open access for Komnas HAM to delve into the involvement of each TNI member, both those directly involved and those participating in the acid pouring incident.
The TNI Commander needs to open access to the parties, especially Komnas HAM, to be able to delve into the involvement of each TNI member,” he said.
Every use of state facilities and abuse of authority by officials or state apparatus must be legally accountable. According to Amiruddin, this is important because terror cases have occurred several times before, but law enforcement and leadership accountability are often unclear.
Previously, the TNI Information Centre Head, Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, considered the replacement of the BAIS leadership, Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo, as a form of accountability. This is the aftermath of the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus. “As a form of accountability, today the handover of the BAIS Chief position has been carried out,” he said on 25 March 2026.
Andrie was attacked with acid pouring by unidentified persons (OTK) while passing through Jalan Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Thursday night, 12 March 2026. The attack occurred after Andrie conducted a live broadcast or podcast at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI). At that time, Andrie suffered burns covering 24 percent of his body.