KontraS Visits Palace to Demand TGPF and General Court for Andrie Yunus
Around 15 representatives from civil society, led by KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya, visited the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Friday (17/4) at around 10:00 WIB.
In front of the Presidential Palace, they voiced demands for the establishment of a Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) and requested that the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus be tried in the general court.
Dimas emphasised that resolving the matter would be more appropriate in the civil court, not the military court, given that the crime against the victim constitutes a general criminal offence.
“The acid attack case on Andrie would be more appropriately resolved through the general court process,” he said when met at the location.
Additionally, he urged the government to promptly form an independent TGPF to address various obstacles in handling the case.
“We also request that state authorities establish a joint fact-finding team, as this case faces numerous political obstacles as well as legal and formal ones,” Dimas stated.
He assessed that the case handling so far has not fully uncovered the facts on the ground. Based on the advocacy team’s investigation, the number of perpetrators is suspected to be more than those already processed legally.
“We can say, based on the investigation, there are 16 perpetrators, not four,” he said.
According to him, the series of events in the acid attack was allegedly planned in advance, from surveillance to monitoring of the victim.
On that occasion, KontraS along with several civil society organisations also submitted a letter to the government via the State Secretariat Ministry. The letter also contained direct requests from the victim, Andrie Yunus.
In his letter to President Prabowo Subianto, Andrie highlighted the slow handling of the case, which has been ongoing for more than 30 days without significant progress.
“More than 30 days have passed, and I assess that up to now there has been no progress or serious intent in resolving this case,” Andrie wrote in his letter.
He also revealed investigation findings indicating the involvement of more perpetrators and rejected resolution through the military court.
“The investigation identifies at least 16 field perpetrators, further strengthening my rejection of resolution through the military court,” he continued.
Andrie requested that the state immediately form an independent TGPF and ensure his case is brought to the general court so that all involved parties can be uncovered transparently.
“I request Mr President to immediately form a TGPF and decide that this case should be resolved in the general court,” he asserted.
The acid attack case against Andrie Yunus is currently being processed in the military court after four TNI members were designated as defendants. The Jakarta Military Court II-08 stated that the matter is legitimately handled under military jurisdiction according to applicable rules.
However, demands from civil society continue to grow for the case to be transferred to the general court.
They believe the military court mechanism may not be able to uncover all involved parties, including suspicions of other actors beyond the four defendants.
On the other hand, the civil advocacy team stated there are indications of up to 16 people involved in the incident, comprising various roles from executors to surveillance personnel.
This serves as one basis for the demands that the legal process be conducted openly through the general court, accompanied by the formation of an independent TGPF.