Palace Expresses Concern Over Acid Attack on KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus

The Presidential Palace has expressed concern over an acid attack on Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the human rights organisation KontraS, carried out by unknown assailants.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that President Prabowo Subianto is also paying close attention to the case. Hadi noted that Prabowo has instructed National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit to conduct a thorough investigation.

“Of course we are very concerned about this incident and, as the Police Chief has already stated, the President has ordered that it be investigated objectively, openly, and as quickly as possible,” Hadi said at the Defence Ministry office in Jakarta on Tuesday, 17 March.

Andrie became a victim of an attack by unknown assailants who doused him with acid on the evening of Thursday, 12 March. The acid attack resulted in injuries to his hands and feet as well as damage to his eyesight. Andrie was immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment. Medical examination showed that Andrie sustained burns covering 24 per cent of his body.

Separately, Listyo affirmed the National Police’s commitment to resolving the acid attack case. Listyo stated that he had received a direct order from President Prabowo Subianto to investigate the case.

“Regarding developments in the activist’s attack, I have received a direct order from the President to conduct a thorough investigation in a professional and transparent manner,” General Sigit told journalists after inspecting the mudik (homecoming) traffic flow at Gubeng Main Station in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday.

Listyo said he would employ scientific methods to uncover the case. Information gathering is continuing to be conducted by teams in the field.