Opposition to TNI Law Suspected Motive for Attack on KontraS Activist, TNI: Motive Still Under Investigation

The Commander of the TNI Military Police Centre (Danpuspom) TNI, Yusri Nuryanto, stated that his side is still probing the motive behind the attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. The investigation process, he said, is now focused on developing the roles of each alleged perpetrator. Yusri revealed that based on CCTV footage from the scene, two individuals suspected to be the field perpetrators were visible. However, from the unit’s handover, there are four individuals now holding the status of alleged suspects. “From the CCTV recording, indeed two perpetrators are visible, but the unit handed over four people,” Yusri said. He emphasised that the discrepancy in numbers will be part of the investigators’ deepening to unravel each individual’s involvement in the incident. “We will develop it later, how the role of each alleged suspect is,” he said. When asked about the motive for the attack, Yusri has not yet provided a conclusion. He stated that investigators still need time to dig into the background and possible connections of the perpetrators. “The motivation certainly requires further deepening, because the suspects were only handed over to the investigators this morning,” he said. The TNI Military Police Centre assured that the investigation process will be conducted thoroughly and professionally, including tracing possible roles beyond the field perpetrators in the case that has captured public attention. For information, in his work, Andrie is involved in various reports issued by civil society organisations, particularly KontraS. Throughout 2025 to 2026, Andrie actively advocated on various issues. He once disrupted a closed meeting of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) discussing the Planned Amendment to the Indonesian National Army Law at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, on 15 March 2025. At that time, KontraS along with other organisations expressed rejection of the TNI Bill, which they deemed problematic. The coalition also rejected the discussion of the Bill because it was held in a closed and non-transparent manner. Andrie also served as a witness in the Constitutional Court trial Number 81/PUU-XXIII/2025 regarding the formal review of Law Number 3 of 2025 on Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI. The TNI Military Police arrested four TNI AL and AU personnel with initials NDP, SL, BHW, and ES related to the acid splashing case against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. He reminded investigators not to rush to conclude the involved parties, whether from civilian circles or certain institutions.