EN.malanginspirasi.com – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has immediately established a special joint investigation team involving the Central Jakarta Metro Police Resort (Polres Metro Jakarta Pusat), Metro Jaya Regional Police (Polda Metro Jaya), and the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) to pursue the perpetrators of the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS).
The case has drawn direct orders from President Prabowo Subianto for a thorough, professional, and transparent investigation that uncovers both the motive and any intellectual actors behind the assault.
“I have received direct instructions from the President to conduct a complete investigation,” said National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Regional Police, Chief Commissioner Budi Hermanto, confirmed that investigators are now prioritizing scientific methods, particularly the detailed analysis of CCTV footage from around the scene.
The Assault
The incident occurred on Thursday night, March 12, 2026, at approximately 11:37 PM WIB, on Jalan Salemba I–Talang (Talang Bridge), Senen, Central Jakarta.
Andrie Yunus had just finished recording a podcast titled “Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office.
After refueling at the Cikini gas station, he was riding his scooter when two unidentified individuals on a Honda Beat motorcycle (2016–2021 model) approached from the opposite direction. The passenger immediately splashed corrosive liquid onto the right side of Yunus’s body.
Yunus sustained second-degree burns covering 24 percent of his body—including his face, both hands, chest, and eyes. He screamed in agony as his motorcycle fell, and was rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) for intensive care, including emergency eye surgery.
Police immediately conducted a crime scene investigation that same night, securing remnants of the corrosive liquid and other physical evidence.
As of Sunday, March 15, 2026, investigators have questioned at least two local witnesses, upgraded the case from preliminary inquiry to full investigation status, and are intensively analyzing clear CCTV recordings that captured the attackers—both wearing helmets and face masks.
Although no suspects have been named yet, Metro Jaya Regional Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri assured that the probe is being deepened.
“We are still conducting in-depth analysis… Please pray that it can be solved quickly,” he said.
Strong Condemnation from Human Rights Groups
Strong condemnation has come from human rights groups. KontraS, Amnesty International Indonesia, the Civil Society Coalition, and Front Line Defenders have labeled the attack an “attempted murder” and a “deliberate silencing of critical voices.” They demand that police not only arrest the direct perpetrators but also expose the masterminds, suspecting the assault is linked to Yunus’s activism.
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) views the case as a serious violation of the right to security. Chairperson Anis Hidayah announced that her commission will launch an independent investigation and has urged full transparency from police.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has also highlighted the incident as a “horrific attack on a human rights defender.”
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra described the attack as “an assault on democracy itself.”
“Human rights activists work for the people and the state, because upholding human rights and democracy is a constitutional mandate,” Yusril said. He called on Polri to investigate all the way to the intellectual actors, emphasizing that the operation appeared planned and well-organized.
Andrie Yunus remains under intensive multidisciplinary care at RSCM. The case has drawn widespread national and international attention, especially as Indonesia recently assumed leadership of the UN Human Rights Council.
While police remain optimistic thanks to strong digital evidence, observers stress the importance of revealing the motive to prevent impunity for violence against activists. Civil society and human rights organizations continue to monitor the case closely to ensure the legal process is fair and swift.
