Legislator urges National Human Rights Commission to investigate acid attack on activist
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the House of Representatives Commission XIII Yanuar Arif Wibowo has urged the National Human Rights Commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus.
“Komnas HAM must step in to investigate thoroughly. This is not just a physical attack on an individual, but a threat to human rights and civil liberties in democracy,” Yanuar said in his statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
Regarding the arrest of several suspected perpetrators of the acid attack, including the involvement of military personnel, he emphasised that the legal process must be conducted criminally in the general court, not in the military court.
“The victim is a civilian, even though the perpetrator is from the military, so the legal process must be carried out in the general court to ensure law enforcement is transparent and accountable,” he stressed.
He also expressed appreciation to the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) for quickly providing protection to the victim, family, and witnesses.
“The swift action by LPSK in providing protection to the victim and witnesses is commendable. This protection is important so that witnesses are brave enough to give testimony, allowing the case to be uncovered clearly and the perpetrators to be tried,” he said.
According to him, the attack is not merely an ordinary criminal act, but a form of intimidation aimed at spreading fear among activists and the public to prevent them from expressing their thoughts and opinions in public spaces.
“An attack on an activist fighting for civil rights is an effort to intimidate the public into not daring to speak out. Yet freedom of expression is a constitutional right guaranteed in our democratic system. The target is not just Andrie as an individual, but the critical public,” said the politician from the Central Java electoral district.
According to him, the incident already meets the elements of terror that impacts public safety. Therefore, he requested that the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) participate in monitoring and supervising the handling of this case.
“BNPT needs to monitor and provide supervision so that this case is handled seriously and transparently, because its impact is not only on the victim, but this terror also threatens the climate of civil freedom in Indonesia,” Yanuar stated.