Prabowo Orders National Police Chief to Fully Investigate Acid Attack on Human Rights Activist
President Prabowo Subianto has given particular attention to the incident of an acid attack on Andrie Yunus, Vice Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). Prabowo has instructed National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to conduct a thorough investigation of the case.
The acid attack allegedly occurred on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at approximately 23:30 Western Indonesia Time on Jalan Salemba in Senen, Central Jakarta. In circulating CCTV footage, the perpetrators appeared to be two men travelling on a motorcycle passing through the location.
The two appeared to turn their motorcycle around until they came alongside the victim. The victim, who was riding a motorcycle at the time, was sprayed with what is believed to be acid by the perpetrators.
The victim appeared to experience severe heat and dropped his motorcycle on the roadside. The victim also screamed hysterically whilst attempting to remove his clothing that had been exposed to the acid.
“It burns… it burns… it burns. Acid… acid. Oh God, help, acid… acid… acid,” the victim screamed, as seen in the CCTV footage reviewed on Friday, 13 March.
The victim’s clothing appeared torn and his body blistered from the acid spray. Residents subsequently attended to the victim.
The victim is now receiving treatment at a hospital. Police stated that the victim sustained 24 per cent burn injuries.
General Sigit affirmed that the National Police would conduct a thorough investigation of the case. He also stated that Prabowo had already issued a direct order to conduct a thorough investigation.
“Regarding the development of this attack on the activist, I have received a direct order from the President to conduct a thorough, professional and transparent investigation,” General Sigit told journalists following an inspection of holiday travel traffic at Gubeng Surabaya Central Station, East Java, on Sunday, 15 March 2026.
General Sigit explained that the National Police would employ scientific methods in uncovering this case. Information gathering is ongoing by teams in the field.
“The steps we are taking will naturally prioritise Scientific Crime Investigation. We are currently gathering information, and that information will subsequently be examined one by one,” he said.
LPSK Provides Protection
The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has also provided emergency protection to Andrie Yunus. The protection is intended to ensure the victim feels safe during treatment.
“This emergency protection aims to provide a sense of security to the victim immediately after the commission of the criminal act. The LPSK has implemented emergency protection measures in the form of accompaniment, close escort or monitoring, as well as medical assistance for the victim during treatment at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. The LPSK team has also deployed to conduct further investigation,” said Deputy Head of LPSK, Sri Suparyati.
The LPSK coordinates with the KontraS Working Body and provides physical protection through close security by LPSK escort officers. The LPSK also conducts an initial assessment together with the victim’s family to identify further protection needs.
A request for protection to the LPSK was submitted on 13 March 2026 by the victim’s father. In the request, the victim’s family proposed a number of protection service programmes, including provision of procedural rights, physical protection in the form of close security, and medical assistance.
She stated that the acid attack on Andrie Yunus is suspected to be a serious assault crime. The LPSK states that it will continue to monitor the victim’s condition whilst ensuring the victim’s rights are fulfilled.
The LPSK has urged law enforcement authorities to swiftly identify the perpetrators of the acid terror attack. The LPSK considers swift and thorough identification of the perpetrators important in order to provide a sense of justice for the victim whilst preventing the recurrence of similar violence.