Ministry of Defence's Response on TNI's Handling of Andrie Yunus Case

The Ministry of Defence was sparing with its words when asked for comment on the handling of the case involving the assault on Deputy Coordinator of Kontras, Andrie Yunus, which is suspected to have been carried out by TNI members. The Head of the Information and Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Defence Secretariat, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, did not respond when confirmed about the detention process of four members of the TNI’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) by the Military Police Centre. Rico also declined to comment on demands for the government to reveal the intellectual mastermind behind the act. Rico only stated that the legal process against the suspected perpetrators, who are TNI personnel, is being handled in accordance with applicable provisions. “The enforcement of the law against the alleged perpetrators from TNI elements is currently being carried out in accordance with applicable provisions by the TNI Military Police Centre in a professional and transparent manner,” Rico said when contacted on Thursday, 19 March 2026. Previously, Andrie Yunus, an activist who frequently criticises the TNI Law and the expansion of the military’s role in the Prabowo Subianto administration era, was doused with caustic liquid while on Jalan Salemba I-Talang, Central Jakarta, on Thursday night, 12 March 2026. Andrie was doused with a dangerous solution by two unidentified individuals. On 18 March 2026, the TNI Military Police Centre assured that this case would be handled through the military justice mechanism. The TNI has now detained four soldiers suspected of being the perpetrators of the caustic liquid dousing against Andrie Yunus. The four suspected perpetrators are members of the TNI’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) from the air and sea forces. They are initialled NDP, SL, BHW, and ES. NDP holds the rank of captain, SL and BHW are first lieutenants, while ES is still a second sergeant. Yusri stated that two of the four TNI members acted as executors, namely the perpetrators of the caustic liquid dousing who were caught on CCTV. Meanwhile, the roles of the other two members are still unknown. Yusri said the investigation process is still ongoing. “Because this was only handed over this morning,” he said. Andrie Yunus’s lawyer from the Advocacy Team for Democracy, Fadhil Alfathan, doubts the truth behind the legal process carried out by the TNI. “It was only investigated last night, and arrests were made today,” Fadhil told reporters at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) building. He mentioned that the oddity is evident because the TNI was able to quickly find the suspected perpetrators. “The police side, which had investigated earlier, had not yet been able to officially reveal them,” Fadhil said.