Wednesday, 13 May 2026
JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM ~ Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Central Office, was brutally attacked with acid on Thursday, March 12, 2026, on Salemba Road in Jakarta.
The assault occurred immediately after recording his podcast, "Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia", at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), leaving him with severe burns on his hands, face, chest, and eyes.Medical personnel rushed Yunus to a hospital for intensive care. Initial examinations revealed burns covering up to 24% of his body.
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Irvan Saputra, director of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Medan, described the acid attack as a potential criminal act and a deliberate attempt to intimidate a human rights activist.
"The attack appears to be an effort to silence Andrie's critical voice, especially in defending human rights and handling cases of abuse," Irvan said on Friday, March 13, 2026.He added that, according to the Indonesian Human Rights Commission (Regulation No. 5 of 2015), such incidents should be treated as emergency cases requiring immediate protection for human rights defenders.
LBH Medan strongly condemned the attack and called on authorities to identify both the perpetrators and those behind the assault on Andrie Yunus.
"This incident must attract public and law enforcement attention, as it serves as a warning to all human rights defenders in Indonesia," Irvan stressed.He also emphasized that Yunus' work is protected under Articles 28A–28J of the 1945 Constitution, which guarantee citizens' fundamental rights, as well as Articles 100–103 of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, which ensure every citizen the right to advocate for, report, and promote human rights. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Darmailawati
