Megawati Comments on Andrie Yunus Acid Attack Case: Funny and Strange

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The acid attack incident targeting KontraS activist Andrie Yunus has now come under the spotlight from Indonesia’s fifth president, Megawati Soekarnoputri. She feels there is something strange and amusing about the handling of Andrie Yunus’s case. Four members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS TNI) underwent their first trial for the acid attack on Andrie Yunus at the Military Court II-08 in Jakarta on Wednesday (29/4/2026). The four defendants are Serda Edi Sudarko, Lettu Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Kapten Nandala Dwi Prasetia, and Lettu Sami Lakka. Megawati finds it amusing that the TNI soldiers involved as perpetrators are being tried in a military court. “Can’t this Yunus person request it? Doesn’t he have rights? But why is it being taken to a military court? It’s strange to me,” Megawati said while delivering a speech at the Professorship Emeritus Conferral event for Arief Hidayat at Borobudur University, Jakarta, on Saturday (2/5/2026). “I’m really concerned about the issue of the child who was doused with acid. It’s funny, isn’t it? A question for the smart people: if it’s like that, should the trial be in a military court or a civilian court?” Megawati asked. She questioned whether a victim can choose if their case is handled by a military or general court. Mega also touched on the matter of connected justice. “All you smart people, please speak up from the back: how should it actually go if there is a court that must be connected, and why isn’t it implemented? What are the rules if rejecting it, or is there none at all?” Megawati stated. Megawati emphasised that every citizen has equal rights before the law, whether poor or even people with special needs. “From what I see of Indonesia’s formal law, is it like this, just as they please?” she remarked.