Trending: Prabowo Moves to Discipline Critics, Caustic Soda Access Tightened

Various expert responses to President Prabowo Subianto’s statement regarding his intention to discipline observers who frequently criticise the government dominated discussion over the past weekend, Sunday, 15 March 2026. One of the most widely read articles was a commentary from the Public Virtue Research Institute (PVRI) describing Prabowo’s statement as the root cause of political chaos.

Additionally, an article featuring comments from Celios, which characterised Prabowo’s statement as reflecting paranoid tendencies, also garnered considerable reader attention. The incident involving caustic soda being poured on Kontras activist Andrie Yunus remained a topic of discussion. Below are the three most widely read news stories on Tempo’s national channel on 15 March:

PVRI: Prabowo’s Statement is the Root of Political Chaos

The Public Virtue Research Institute (PVRI) questioned the anti-criticism stance of President Prabowo Subianto, expressed following the caustic soda attack on Andrie Yunus, Vice Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

Less than 24 hours after the caustic soda attack on Andrie, President Prabowo Subianto expressed his intention to discipline critics and observers whom he deemed “unpatriotic” on the day of Andrie’s attack.

PVRI Board Chair Usman Hamid described Prabowo’s statement as a serious threat to activists, academics, students, and ordinary citizens defending democracy. Their criticism was dismissed by Prabowo as chaos requiring discipline.

However, according to Usman, what is chaotic are Prabowo’s thought processes, policies, statements, and actions. “That statement demonstrates that Prabowo’s thinking and statements are the root cause of today’s political chaos, which disrupts the law enforcement process by authorised bodies such as the police,” Usman told Tempo on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

Usman expressed confidence that the police would be capable of investigating terror against critics. However, he cautioned that the legal process against the attacker could stall if the head of state opposes criticism.

Prabowo Alludes to Unpatriotic Observers, Celios: Paranoid

The Center for Economic and Law Studies (Celios) criticised President Prabowo Subianto’s remarks regarding observers lacking patriotism. According to Celios Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira, such accusations represent paranoia on Prabowo’s part regarding differing opinions in society.

Bhima stated that Prabowo should not treat criticism as a threat. “This is a paranoid attitude towards dissenting opinion,” said Bhima when contacted on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

Bhima noted that threats against researchers, including those from Celios, have increased under Prabowo’s leadership. These threats, he said, have intensified in digital spaces. “Over the past week, the narrative that research institutions are foreign-funded and unpatriotic has seemed increasingly prevalent,” he remarked.

According to Bhima, Celios has experienced growing threats in digital spaces following their research on free nutritious meals and the Indonesia-United States trade agreement. Bhima views this phenomenon as part of efforts to silence critical observers.

According to Bhima, the government should welcome the existence of civil society organisations conducting policy research without using state budgets. “That data should be used for policy-making, yet instead it is threatened,” he said.

Special Staff to Vice President Requests Tighter Caustic Soda Distribution Controls

Nico Harjanto, Special Staff to the Vice President, expressed sympathy whilst condemning the attack on Andrie Yunus. The Kontras activist was attacked with caustic soda by unknown assailants.

In response, Nico requested that relevant institutions tighten controls on caustic soda and other hazardous materials distribution. “Particularly those frequently used for crime, street fighting, and attacks on innocent citizens,” he stated in a written statement on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

Additionally, he requested that Andrie Yunus receive the best medical care for his recovery without financial obstacles. The government, he said, should also focus on victim recovery and completing the investigation.

“I hope the tragic incident experienced by Andrie Yunus is the last,” said Nico.

Another Special Staff to the Vice President, Suwardi, also condemned the attack on the pro-democracy activist. According to him, the caustic soda attack on Andrie could generate concern and trigger mutual suspicion within society.

“Public accusations and suspicion are easily directed at the government as the state administrator,” he stated in a written statement on Sunday, 15 March 2026.