Prabowo: Sulphuric acid attack on activist is a serious criminal act

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto stated that the case of the sulphuric acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus constitutes a serious criminal act classified as terrorism and must be investigated to uncover the masterminds behind the incident.

According to a statement from the Indonesian Government Communication Agency (Bakom) received in Jakarta on Thursday, the President conveyed this during a question-and-answer session with journalists.

“This is terrorism. This is a barbaric act. We must pursue it. We must investigate it. We must investigate it!” Prabowo said.

The President stressed that law enforcement must not stop at the on-site perpetrators but must be able to reveal the intellectual actors behind the incident.

“(Including) who ordered it, who paid for it,” he said.

Prabowo also stated that the state will not tolerate any form of violence against citizens, including against activists who voice criticism. He assured that if there is involvement of state apparatus in the violence case, the legal process must proceed without favouritism.

“Of course (if it’s from the apparatus). There will be none! (impunity). I guarantee it!” the President said.

“I want to uphold the law. I want a civilised Indonesia. Such actions must not be allowed,” he said.

“I was elected by the people to defend the people. But we must be vigilant, I ask for a thorough investigation. Right down to the actors,” Prabowo said.

It is known that the Indonesian National Police (Polri) along with the TNI Military Police Centre (Puspom) have secured four TNI personnel suspected of being involved in the sulphuric acid attack.

TNI Puspom Commander Major General Yusri Nuryanto stated that the suspected perpetrators consist of three officers and one non-commissioned officer.