Pigai's Comments on Demands for General Court in Andrie Yunus Case
Human Rights Minister (HAM) Natalius Pigai has highlighted the intense pressure from civil society organisations and the public regarding the legal process in the planned attempted murder case against Kontras activist Andrie Yunus.
He stated that in such moments, pressure from the public and through the media is indeed very much needed, as the level of distrust in the ongoing legal process remains high.
“But, as a Minister, I ask that trial by mobs and trial by press is not good,” Pigai said during a working meeting with Commission XIII of the DPR on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
He explained that Andrie’s legal process is currently being handled by the Military Police Centre through the military justice mechanism. However, the state cannot direct the legal process to be carried out through a specific mechanism due to considerations of the trias politica concept.
The government, as part of the executive power, he said, must not intervene in the ongoing legal process. “We can only say that this is unfair. That is enough for the government,” Pigai stated.
The demand for Andrie’s case to be tried through the general justice mechanism was made by the Lokataru Foundation through a petition. As of Tuesday, 7 April 2026 at 16:20 WIB, there were 2,469 people who signed the column on change.org regarding Andrie’s case.
On the other hand, Andrie also urged that his legal process be tried through the general justice mechanism. He conveyed this demand through a document dated 3 April 2026.
The Deputy Coordinator of Kontras rejected the idea of the attackers being tried through military justice. Whoever the perpetrators are, whether civilians or military personnel, they must be tried through the general court.
According to him, the legal process through military justice has the potential not to provide justice for the victim. He views military justice as often becoming a space for impunity for soldiers who commit legal violations and human rights abuses.
Andrie Yunus was doused with corrosive chemical liquid on 12 March while passing through Jalan Salemba I-Talang, Central Jakarta. Medical records state that Andrie suffered burns of more than 20 percent due to this attack.
Last week, the police handed over Andrie’s case to the Military Police Centre. From statements by the TNI Military Police Centre, there are four perpetrators of the dousing. They are NDP, SL, BHW, and ES, from the air and sea forces.
NDP holds the rank of captain, SL and BHW hold the rank of first lieutenant, while ES holds the rank of second sergeant.