KontraS Urges State Institutions to Thoroughly Investigate Andrie Yunus Case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Impunity Monitoring Division of KontraS, Jane Rosalina, has urged all state institutions to seriously and thoroughly investigate the acid attack on KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus.
According to Jane, the attack on Andrie does not merely target an individual but also assaults the psyche and psychological state of civil society at large.
“This can be suspected as part of a systematic effort to silence those who dare to reveal facts, challenge impunity, criticise power, and fight for justice today,” Jane stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.
She explained that the perpetrators might have thought that by dousing Andrie’s face with acid, KontraS would back down.
Nevertheless, Jane emphasised that although Andrie’s face was doused with acid, it has instead sparked multiplied resistance.
“The wounds and trauma experienced by our colleague are fully present before the public, while the source or actors causing the violence remain out of sight,” she said.
To that end, Jane called on all parties to continue monitoring the case to ensure it is investigated thoroughly, as it cannot be seen as an ordinary criminal act but can be constructed as a human rights crime displayed to expose the existence of systematic and organised criminal infrastructure.
Thus, such behaviour gives rise to terror, intimidation, or fear among critical members of society.
She also hopes that law enforcement authorities will promptly arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and uncover all those involved, both those in the field and the intellectual actors behind the attack.
In addition, Jane requested the establishment of a joint fact-finding team involving civil society elements to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
It was mentioned that this aligns with demands from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs), who has called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
“The request also comes from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who encourages accountability for this case,” she revealed.
In that regard, she stressed that there is no reason for the state not to investigate Andrie’s case thoroughly.
Previously, Metro Jaya Police had identified two suspected perpetrators in the acid attack case against Andrie.
“We can inform you that the two individuals we presented earlier, based on Police data, are one with initials BHC and one with initials MAK,” said Director of Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.
However, Iman explained that based on the investigation results, it does not rule out the possibility that the perpetrators number more than four people, as per initial information provided and based on statements from several witnesses who have been questioned, namely 15 witnesses.