KontraS Highlights Threats Against Andrie Yunus Advocacy Team, Calls for Protection and Formation of Independent Team
The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), together with the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), has revealed threats and intimidation faced by legal representatives and human rights defender networks in the process of investigating the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus.
Head of the Impunity Monitoring Division of KontraS, Jane Rosalina, emphasised that requesting protection from the state is an important step to anticipate increasing risks during the advocacy process. “This is a preventive and mitigation step because we see potential threats directed at legal representatives as well as other human rights defenders advocating the Andrie Yunus case,” Jane said at the National Human Rights Commission office on Tuesday (31/3).
The threats in question appear in various forms, particularly digital attacks through social media. Several anonymous accounts and buzzers are said to be intimidating parties actively voicing the case. In addition, KontraS has noted direct threats against certain individuals, including terror against families and alleged tailing, which not only occur in Jakarta but also in regions such as North Sumatra and West Java.
“Not only legal representatives, but also networks voicing this case are experiencing intimidation, both verbally and in writing through social media,” explained Jane Rosalina.
In response to the situation, TAUD and KontraS have submitted protection requests to relevant institutions, including the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and Komnas HAM. The advocacy team is also urging Komnas HAM to accelerate the investigation and issue official recommendations to ensure the case handling proceeds independently and comprehensively.
Andrie Yunus’s legal representative, Airlangga Julio, stressed the urgency of forming an Independent Joint Fact-Finding Team. This step is considered important to unravel deadlocks and inconsistencies in case handling among law enforcement agencies. “We see tension and unclear information between institutions, so it is important to form an independent team to uncover the command structure and ensure this case is processed fairly,” he said.
In addition, the advocacy team is pushing Komnas HAM to elevate the handling status to a pro justitia investigation over allegations of serious human rights violations, given indications of structured and systematic actions in this case.
Meanwhile, victim Andrie Yunus remains in intensive care at the hospital. He is undergoing a series of medical procedures, including surgery on the eye and skin due to serious burns. KontraS also urges the media and public to respect the victim’s recovery process by not disseminating photos showing Andrie Yunus’s condition while being treated, to uphold victim protection principles.
Komnas HAM urges the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Polri to take over the handling of the acid attack case against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus.
To date, the Metro Jaya Regional Police are still conducting in-depth investigations regarding alleged involvement of TNI members in the case.
Komnas HAM urges transparent examination of former TNI Kabais related to the acid attack case on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. Law enforcement is deemed crucial.
Komnas HAM urges the TNI Commander to examine former KaBAIS Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo related to the acid attack case on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. See the full statement here.
Komnas HAM Commissioner, Amiruddin al Rahab, responded to the replacement of TNI Kabais or Head of Bais Letjen Yudi Abrimantyo. According to him, it is a good signal and requests that the TNI Kabais be examined.