A prominent Indonesian human rights advocate has suffered a brutal acid attack on the streets of Jakarta, an act that has sent shockwaves through the community and drawn strong condemnation from international bodies. The incident has left the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights “deeply concerned” about the safety of those speaking out against injustice.
The attack, which occurred late on Thursday night, targeted Andrie Yunus, the deputy coordinator of the Indonesian human rights organisation KontraS. According to a statement released by KontraS, Mr. Yunus sustained severe burns to his hands, face, chest, and in the vicinity of his eyes. The harrowing incident took place as Mr. Yunus was leaving a legal aid office after concluding a podcast recording.
CCTV footage captured the shocking moment of the assault. The video shows two individuals on a motorcycle travelling along a street in Central Jakarta. They then manoeuvre their vehicle to intercept Mr. Yunus, who was also riding his motorbike. The passenger on the motorcycle is seen appearing to hurl a substance at Mr. Yunus, who immediately cries out in agony. Passers-by swiftly intervened to offer assistance before he was transported to a local hospital.
“Medical examination results show that Andrie sustained burns covering 24% of his body,” stated Dimas Bagus Arya, KontraS coordinator. “Based on the information we have gathered, we assess that this acid attack constitutes an attempt to silence critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders.”
Mr. Yunus has been a vocal critic of the increasing involvement of the military in civilian affairs within Indonesia. This concern is shared by numerous civil society organisations across the country, who are apprehensive about the armed forces’ influence in public matters. Historically, the Indonesian military held significant political sway during the authoritarian rule of President Suharto, which spanned from the 1960s to the 1990s. At the time of the attack, Mr. Yunus had just finished recording a podcast focused on the themes of “Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia.” His advocacy on these critical issues has previously been highlighted in interviews with the ABC.
Rights Commissioner Expresses Grave Concern
A coalition of Indonesian civil society organisations has issued a strong denouncement of the attack, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation. Their joint statement emphasised that the assault cannot be divorced from Mr. Yunus’s dedicated work as a human rights defender, noting his consistent efforts to expose abuses of power, human rights violations, and the concerning contraction of civic space in Indonesia.
The statement also revealed that in the days leading up to the incident, Mr. Yunus had been subjected to various forms of intimidation, including receiving unsettling calls from unknown numbers. These patterns of harassment, the coalition argued, suggest deliberate and systematic attempts to instill fear among individuals actively engaged in advocacy and the defence of human rights.
On the social media platform X, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, conveyed his deep concern. He posted, “Deeply concerned by horrific acid attack on Andrie Yunus, the Deputy External Affairs Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence. Those responsible for this cowardly act of violence must be held to account. HRDs [human rights defenders] must be protected in their vital work & able to raise without fear issues of public concern.”
Police Launch Investigation
Indonesian Member of Parliament Andreas Hugo Pareira has unequivocally condemned the attack, urging immediate action from law enforcement. “The police must immediately conduct an investigation to uncover the perpetrator and the motive behind this brutal and deeply inhumane attack,” Mr. Pareira stated to reporters. “There is no point in this country having a police force if it cannot find the perpetrator and reveal their motive.”
Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir, head of the National Police Public Relations Division, confirmed that the National Police are actively investigating the acid attack. He noted that the National Police chief has personally assigned significant attention to the case.
“Police have taken several steps, particularly processing the crime scene, as well as carrying out a series of investigative actions based on the police report,” General Isir explained. He assured the public that the investigation is proceeding scientifically and that authorities are interviewing witnesses.
“We have recorded two witnesses whom we are currently questioning,” General Isir added. He also appealed to the public for assistance, encouraging anyone with information to come forward. “We guarantee protection for anyone who provides information,” he pledged. “We will work seriously and with full commitment to bring this case to light and to identify and arrest the perpetrator, whoever they may be.”
The ABC has reached out to the police for further comment on the ongoing investigation.
