Six Facts About the Acid Attack on KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus in Salemba

The case of caustic chemical attack targeting Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, has attracted intense public scrutiny. The incident, which occurred in the Salemba area of Central Jakarta, has raised serious concerns about the safety of human rights activists in Indonesia.

The following are the key facts relating to the attack on Andrie Yunus that took place on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026:

Andrie Yunus is a central figure at the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). As Deputy Coordinator, he actively voices criticism against government policies regarded as infringing on human rights and democratic values.

The attack occurred on Thursday (12/3) at approximately 23:00 WIB. The location was in the Salemba area of Central Jakarta, a strategic district not far from activist hubs in the capital.

A crucial fact in this case concerns the victim’s activities before the attack. Andrie Yunus had recently left the YLBHI office after appearing on a podcast titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia”, a topic believed to relate to strong criticism of latest national security policies.

Based on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reviewed by police, two perpetrators were involved. They used a motorcycle and carried out the chemical attack rapidly while the victim was in an area with minimal surveillance.

Novel Baswedan, a former KPK investigator, offered his perspective. According to Novel, the attack follows a pattern remarkably similar to previous attacks on activists. He believes the assault was planned and organised rather than common street crime.

Novel Baswedan stated that the caustic chemical attack aimed to inflict severe psychological impact or permanent disability on the victim.

Metro Jaya Police are currently conducting intensive analysis of evidence collected at the scene. The National Police Chief has reportedly given special attention to identifying the perpetrators and intellectual authors behind the attack in order to ease tensions among civil society.

To date, police continue pursuing the suspects based on characteristics obtained from CCTV footage and witness statements from the scene.