Usman Hamid Urges Police to Handle Case of Acid Attack on KontraS Activist

Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, has responded to developments in the acid attack case against KontraS Vice Coordinator Andrie Yunus, which is also being handled by the TNI. Usman urged that the case remain under police jurisdiction. “We must press for this case to be handled by the police,” Usman told reporters on Thursday (19/3/2026). Usman also called for the establishment of a Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) to address the attack on Andrie. He requested action from President Prabowo Subianto regarding the formation of such an independent team. “Secondly, if that is not sufficient, we must press for a Joint Fact-Finding Team. The experience of Munir’s murder showed that police alone were not enough. There must be full political support from the head of state,” Usman said. Furthermore, Usman advocated for the case to be processed in general courts if TNI soldiers are involved. He referred to the TNI Law and the MPR Decree (TAP MPR), which state that TNI personnel are subject to general courts if suspected of committing general criminal offences. “The new aspect is the TNI Law and the MPR Decree, which affirm the obligation of TNI members to submit to general courts when committing general criminal violations. So, the new law must be applied, not the old one,” he said. Usman stressed that Andrie and civil society groups are the most disadvantaged by the case. According to him, the terror act has endangered the public. “The greatest loss from Andrie’s case is the harm to public interest. It occurred in a public environment, shocking the general public as Andrie screamed hysterically. Residents on Talang Street were startled, terrorised, intimidated, and traumatised. Their hair must have stood on end. And psychologically, it terrorises the minds of many people,” Usman stated.