Setara Institute Urges Investigation into Chain of Command in Andrie Yunus Case

The case of the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), allegedly involving active TNI members, continues to draw widespread condemnation. The Setara Institute urges that the handling of this matter not stop at the field perpetrators but must be thoroughly investigated up to the possibility of orders from superiors or the chain of command.

Setara Institute Executive Director Halili Hasan emphasised that the arrest of four TNI soldiers must not become a cosmetic effort to quell public anger.

“The arrest of four TNI soldiers in the recent violence case must not become a scapegoating strategy or merely finding a scapegoat to dampen public anger,” Halili stated during a Public Discussion and Breaking Fast Together at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Wednesday (18/3).

Fact-Finding Team

Halili encouraged law enforcement to boldly trace the intellectual actors behind the attack. According to him, it is important to ascertain whether this incident was a personal initiative or a structured instruction.

“We must dare to ask academically whether this is the action of rogue individuals or part of the chain of command,” he asserted.

As a concrete step to ensure accountability, he urged President Prabowo Subianto to immediately form an independent Fact-Finding Team (TPF).

“Without an independent Fact-Finding Team (TPF), law enforcement will only sabotage substantive justice,” Halili added.

Threat to Democracy

The physical attack on a human rights activist is seen as a danger alarm for the sustainability of democracy in Indonesia. Halili views this pattern of intimidation as a form of gradual weakening of norms.

“Democracy now no longer collapses through quick military coups, but through the gradual weakening of norms and intimidation of civilians,” he said.

In agreement, Zidan Al-Fadlu, Head of Strategic Studies Division of Anak Semua Negeri, described the event as symbolic violence that transforms into structural violence.

“The goal is clear: to instil the normalisation of fear so that repression is seen as normal in maintaining stability,” Zidan stated.

Legal Status of Suspects

Previously, the Indonesian National Army has designated four active soldiers as suspects. TNI Military Police Centre (Puspom) Commander Major General Yusri Nuryanto detailed that the four suspects are charged under Articles 467 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the New Criminal Code regarding planned assault, carrying a prison sentence of between 2 and 4 years.

The narrative is feared to widen the space for intimidation and normalise repression against critical voices in society.