National Human Rights Commission: Resolution of Recommendations on Andrie Case a Priority
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has stated that it has made the recommendations from the investigation into the attempted premeditated murder of activist Andrie Yunus a priority that will be completed as soon as possible.
Komnas HAM Commissioner Saurlin Pandapotan Siagian said that the institution could not yet confirm the date when these recommendations would be issued. However, the commission’s commitment remains unchanged to this day.
“We, as part of the team, are committed to completing the recommendations as soon as possible, and we will try not to follow any agenda outside Jakarta,” said Saurlin at the Komnas HAM office on Saturday, 11 April 2026.
He explained that so far, Komnas HAM has examined the Military Police Centre and sought statements from experts in the Andrie case, including verifying various reports, one of which relates to the number of suspects indicated to be more than four people.
To delve deeper into this indication, he said, Komnas HAM continues to urge the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters to promptly provide access to examine the four soldiers from the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) who carried out the acid splashing.
Since last week, a letter requesting access to examine the four perpetrators has been sent by Komnas HAM to TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto. “However, at this time, I have not yet received a response to that letter,” he stated.
Andrie Yunus was doused with corrosive chemical liquid on 12 March while passing through Jalan Salemba I-Talang, Central Jakarta. Medical records state that the Deputy Coordinator of Kontras suffered burns over 20% due to this attack.
Last week, the TNI Military Police Command (Puspom TNI) handed over the case file and evidence to the Military Prosecutor 07-II Jakarta. If the file is deemed complete, the Andrie case will begin to be tried at the Military Court 08-II Jakarta.
From statements by Puspom TNI, there are four perpetrators of the splashing. They are NDP, SL, BHW, and ES, from the air and sea forces. NDP holds the rank of captain, SL and BHW are first lieutenants, while ES is a second sergeant.
Meanwhile, on 3 April, Andrie Yunus wrote a letter of objection if his case is tried through the military court mechanism. He urged that this case be tried through the general court mechanism.
According to him, the legal process through the military court has the potential not to provide justice for the victim. Whoever the perpetrators are, whether civilians or military personnel, they must be tried through the general court.
Nevertheless, Andrie views the military court as often becoming a space for impunity for soldiers who commit legal and human rights violations.
Based on Kontras data on military court verdicts in assault-murder cases involving TNI personnel from October 2023 to September 2025, there were 244 decisions with 262 defendants.
The issue is that in this data, the sentences for defendants tend to be light, with prison terms of 10 months recorded in 20 decisions with 26 defendants; 6 months in prison with 17 decisions and 17 defendants; and 3 months in prison with 20 decisions and defendants.
Some examples of general criminal cases involving TNI personnel handled in military courts include the Supreme Court cassation against the verdict of two TNI AL personnel in the shooting of a car rental boss. The Supreme Court changed the life imprisonment verdict to 15 years in prison.
That cassation also lightened the sentence for another defendant soldier, namely First Sergeant Rafsin Hermawan, who received a sentence reduction and previously 4 years in prison became 2 years.
Light sentences also occurred to First Sergeant Riza Pahlivi. Riza was the defendant in the case of assaulting a student to death. However, the Military Court I-02 Medan sentenced Riza to 10 months in prison.