Ministry of Human Rights Urges Acceleration of Investigation into Acid Attack on Activist
Jakarta — The Ministry of Human Rights (HAM) has urged law enforcement authorities to accelerate their investigation into the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, an activist with the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), to ensure transparent and accountable law enforcement.
Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto affirmed that the government remains committed to guaranteeing the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified through Law Number 12 of 2005.
“The government’s commitment to the protection and respect of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, to express opinions and to assemble peacefully, remains unchanged,” Mugiyanto said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
According to him, respect for the voice of public criticism forms part of the checks and balances mechanism in democratic life and constitutes the official position of the government, as reflected in President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita agenda.
Regarding the case affecting Andrie Yunus, Mugiyanto noted that the incident has also drawn the attention of the international community, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor.
He stated that such international attention has the potential to influence Indonesia’s standing as both a member and president of the UN Human Rights Council, should the case not be handled transparently and swiftly.
“The acceleration of investigation and the disclosure of clear and comprehensive information about the acid attack incident against our brother Andrie Yunus is urgently needed by the police,” he said.
The Ministry of Human Rights has communicated with the Indonesian National Police to encourage acceleration of the investigation in order to identify the perpetrators, motives, and possible intellectual actors behind the attack.
He deemed the thorough disclosure of the case important to prevent speculation that could damage the credibility of the government’s commitment to human rights protection.
Additionally, the Ministry of Human Rights also appreciated public participation in helping to identify the perpetrators through closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings. However, Mugiyanto cautioned the public to rely on the official investigation results of law enforcement authorities, particularly given the development of artificial intelligence technology that can trigger information manipulation.
On the other hand, the government expressed support for the victim’s recovery process, which is currently undergoing medical treatment.
“The state will cover all medical and recovery costs until completion,” Mugiyanto said.
He also conveyed sympathy and solidarity with Andrie Yunus and expressed hope that the victim would soon recover following optimal medical care.