Marzuki Darusman: Attack on Andrie Yunus Constitutes an Act of Terrorism
Former Indonesian Attorney General from 1999-2001, Marzuki Darusman, has stated that the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus constitutes an act of terrorism.
Marzuki said that the heinous act fully meets the definition of terrorism because it has caused widespread anxiety in society.
“What has happened here is perhaps more than just an assault with the potential (to cause) death to brother Andrie. This is an incident that has induced widespread anxiety in society,” Marzuki said during a press conference in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (18/3).
“Thus, it can be said that what has occurred fully qualifies as terrorism, having caused widespread anxiety, and thereby meeting all definitions of terrorism comprehensively,” he continued.
According to Marzuki, this incident must not end merely with arrests. He urged the authorities to rigorously investigate the case, as the attack is linked to the struggle for democracy.
“It is necessary to place these arrests in a far more serious context because, in essence and in the manner of its occurrence, this event indicates a situation where an act of terrorism has been committed against an activist voicing issues related to the major political problems in our country,” Marzuki stated.
Andrie Yunus became the victim of an acid splashing by unidentified individuals on Thursday (12/3) night.
The attack resulted in injuries to Andrie’s hands and feet, as well as vision impairment. Medical examination results indicate that Andrie suffered 24% burns.
Various civil society groups have urged the government to uncover the attack on the human rights activist. The coalition demands that the perpetrators be arrested and brought to court.
“The state must not pretend not to see the political context of this attack. Freedom cannot be bought at the price of fear. The acid attack on Andrie, which occurred exactly one year after his protest action related to the TNI Bill at the Fairmont Hotel on 15 March 2024, is an unacceptable and systematically planned attempted murder,” reads a joint statement from Amnesty International Indonesia, KontraS, and other civil society groups across the archipelago.
The civil society coalition also urged the state to ensure that Andrie and his family receive the best medical care. They called on the government to form a joint independent fact-finding team, in consultation with civil society, and to guarantee a transparent, impartial, and accountable process.
“The Indonesian National Police must not hesitate and should immediately arrest the perpetrators and intellectual actors of this attack in a transparent and accountable manner. Do not waste the support of the public and the international community,” the coalition’s statement added.