Kontras Activist Doused with Acid, Anies: Organised Action

Jakarta - Former DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan believes that the dousing of acid on Kontras activist Andrie Yunus could not have been carried out by just one or two people sporadically. He stated that the incident shows strong indications of involvement by a broader and organised party. According to Anies, Andrie is a figure who has been active from the start, along with several other activists, in voicing signs of democratic regression. He views the attack as a form of threat to freedom of expression. “Once again, we must see this as a threat to democracy,” he said. Anies emphasised that the state must be present to ensure protection of freedom of speech and to uphold justice. He requested that the legal process not stop at the field perpetrators but trace back to those who gave the orders. He also agreed with President Prabowo Subianto who described the attack as a form of terrorism. According to Anies, the President’s commitment to investigating this case must be carried out by all law enforcement apparatus. “That the President wants to protect democracy, the apparatus under him must carry out the President’s directives,” he concluded. The four alleged perpetrators are TNI military police members,” said TNI Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Yusri Nuryanto during a press conference at TNI Headquarters, Jakarta, on Wednesday. Yusri detailed the four TNI personnel by their initials: Captain NDP, Lieutenant SL, Lieutenant BHW, and Sergeant ES. The four soldiers have been secured and detained at the Jaya Military Police Command. Nevertheless, Yusri has not announced the roles and motives behind the acid dousing on the activist. “So we are still delving into the motive,” he stressed.