Legislator: Pointless to Have Police Force if Unable to Solve Activist Acid Attack Case
Jakarta – Andreas Hugo Pareira, Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has stated that law enforcement authorities must be able to solve the case of an acid attack against Andrie Yunus, vice-coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS).
The PDI-P politician argued that the presence and commitment of law enforcement would be questioned if the perpetrators and motives behind the attack could not be revealed. “Law enforcement must immediately investigate to uncover the perpetrators and the motives behind this brutal and inhumane attack,” Pareira said when contacted on Friday (13 March 2026). “It is pointless for this country to have a police force if it is unable to find and expose the perpetrators’ motives,” he added.
According to him, the acid attack can be viewed as an attempt to silence critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders. “This acid attack represents an attempt to suppress critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders, which, if referring to Law Number 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, Article 66 of Law Number 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, and the Regulation of Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission Number 5 of 2015 on Procedures for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders,” he concluded.
KontraS activist Andrie Yunus was attacked with acid by an unknown person. The acid was splashed primarily on his right and left hands, face, chest, and around his eyes. The incident occurred shortly after Yunus had finished recording a podcast at the office of the Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia”. The recording session ended at approximately 23:00 Western Indonesian Time.
After being attacked with acid, Yunus was immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment. Medical examination revealed that he suffered 24 per cent burn injuries. “Based on information gathered, we believe that this acid attack represents an attempt to silence critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders,” according to statements from the organisation.