Officials Strongly Condemn Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus, Police Urged to Conduct Thorough Investigation
Jakarta – Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), was subjected to a physical attack involving acid being poured on him on Thursday, 12 March 2026, in the evening.
As a result, Andrie suffered severe chemical burns on both his hands, face, chest, and eyes, and is currently undergoing intensive medical care.
According to a Kontras press statement released on Friday, 14 March 2026, Andrie was attacked whilst returning home from a podcast recording titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the offices of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI).
The attack posed a life-threatening risk to Andrie, as the burns covered 24 per cent of his body according to the preliminary diagnosis by doctors at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Currently, six specialist doctors are treating Andrie, including ophthalmologists, ear-nose-throat specialists, orthopaedic surgeons, thoracic specialists, internal medicine specialists, and dermatologists.
“The victim is currently awaiting a medical procedure involving eye surgery to replace the amniotic membrane tissue or graft under local anaesthetic,” said Kontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya.
Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai strongly condemned the attack and urged law enforcement to apprehend the perpetrator immediately.
“And conduct a thorough investigation into the motive behind this incident, and ensure that the perpetrator is prosecuted objectively so that justice for the victim can be realised,” said Pigai.
Pigai emphasised that the state is obligated to protect citizens from all forms of violence and threats to individual safety.
“A swift response from law enforcement is urgently needed at this time,” he said.
Similar support came from Martin Daniel Tumbelaka, a member of Commission II of the House of Representatives. He asserted that such violent acts cannot be justified in a law-governed state such as Indonesia.
“We certainly condemn such violent acts. Whoever the perpetrator is must be immediately identified and prosecuted in accordance with applicable law,” said Martin.
He urged law enforcement to move swiftly to conduct a thorough investigation into this case to prevent a sense of terror and anxiety among the public. According to him, law enforcement must also conduct the investigation transparently.
“Law enforcement must work professionally and objectively. Cases such as this must be investigated thoroughly to prevent them from happening again.”