Prabowo Condemns Terror Against Andrie Yunus: Barbaric Terrorism
President Prabowo Subianto has condemned the acid attack on human rights activist Andrie Yunus. Prabowo described the act as barbaric terrorism.
According to Prabowo, the assault on the activist from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) constitutes a serious criminal act. “This is terrorism. This is a barbaric act,” Prabowo stated in remarks released by the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday, 19 March 2026.
Prabowo expressed these views during a question-and-answer session in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, which took place from Wednesday evening until the early hours of Thursday. In the interview, Prabowo responded to questions from several journalists and experts whom he had invited to his residence.
Prabowo stated that all individuals involved in the attack on Andrie must be uncovered. He wants the intellectual authors behind the act to be investigated, in addition to those who carried it out.
The General Chairman of the Gerindra Party claimed that his government will not tolerate any form of violence against citizens, including activists who voice criticism. He emphasised that legal processes must proceed without favouritism, regardless of any involvement by state apparatus in the violence case.
Prabowo conveyed that attacks like the one suffered by Andrie must not occur in Indonesia. “I want to uphold the law. I want a civilised Indonesia. Such actions must not be allowed,” said the former defence minister.
Two unidentified individuals threw acid at Andrie Yunus in the Talang area, Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026. Andrie then received treatment in the Emergency Department (IGD) of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in the early hours of Friday, 13 March 2026, around 00:00 WIB.
As a result of the incident, Andrie suffered burns covering 24 percent of his body. A medical team consisting of six doctors from various specialisations—ophthalmology, ENT, neurology, orthopaedics, thoracic, internal medicine, and dermatology—is now treating Andrie.
The Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) identified the two attackers on Andrie as initials BHC and MAK. Police displayed photos of both during a press conference at Polda Metro Jaya headquarters in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
On the same day, the Indonesian National Army Military Police Centre (Puspom TNI) announced the detention of four individuals with initials NDP, SL, BWH, and ES, suspected of involvement in the attack. All four are members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS TNI) from the air and naval branches.