Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator for the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), sustained severe injuries in an acid attack by unidentified assailants (OTK) in Central Jakarta on Thursday night, March 12. The harrowing incident, which occurred around 11:00 PM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), took place shortly after Yunus had attended a podcast event titled “Remilitarization and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office.
KontraS Coordinator, Dimas Bagus Arya, confirmed the details in a written statement received on Friday, March 13. “Andrie suffered an acid attack by unknown perpetrators, resulting in serious injuries across his body, particularly affecting his right and left hands, face, chest, and eyes,” Arya stated, highlighting the brutality of the assault.
Attacked by Two Assailants on a Motorcycle
According to information gathered by KontraS, the incident unfolded as Andrie Yunus was riding his motorcycle along Jalan Salemba I–Talang. Suddenly, two individuals on a scooter, suspected to be a Honda Beat, approached from the opposite direction. Dimas Bagus Arya described the perpetrators as two men operating a single motorcycle, with one acting as the driver and the other as the passenger.
KontraS provided specific details regarding the assailants’ appearance: the first perpetrator, the driver, wore a white-blue combination t-shirt, dark pants (believed to be jeans), and a black helmet. The second perpetrator, the passenger, was seen wearing a black face mask, a dark blue t-shirt, and blue jeans that were folded short. Without warning, one of the attackers doused Yunus with corrosive acid, striking various parts of his body. The immediate impact caused Yunus to cry out in pain and lose control of his motorcycle, collapsing onto the street.
24 Percent Burns, No Valuables Stolen
Following the horrific assault, Andrie Yunus was rushed to the hospital. Medical examinations revealed the severe extent of his injuries, confirming that he had suffered burns covering 24 percent of his body surface. KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya explicitly stated that no valuable possessions were taken from Yunus during the incident, leading to the strong suspicion that the attack was not motivated by robbery. Instead, KontraS firmly believes that “this acid attack is a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices within society, particularly those of human rights defenders.”
Police Investigate Amidst Absence of Official Report
Responding to the incident, Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya), confirmed that the Central Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim Polres Jakarta Pusat) had initiated a thorough investigation at the scene. “Currently, the Central Jakarta Police Satreskrim is actively investigating the witnesses and the crime scene. We all condemn this incident and hope the perpetrators are swiftly apprehended,” Budi stated on Friday, March 13.
Adding to this, Central Jakarta Satreskrim Chief AKBP Roby Heri Saputra revealed that despite the absence of an official report from the victim, the police have already commenced investigative procedures. “It is true that such an incident occurred. While an official report from the victim has not yet been filed, we are conducting an investigation to ascertain the perpetrators’ identities through scientific investigation methods,” Roby affirmed, underscoring the police’s commitment to the case.
Coordinating Minister Yusril Pledges Coordination
When questioned about the assault, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, initially stated he was unaware of the incident involving Andrie Yunus. “I do not know yet,” Yusril remarked at the Palace, further emphasizing, “I have not received any news about it.” However, the Minister quickly assured that he would promptly coordinate the matter with all relevant parties. “Yes, I will coordinate it later. I don’t know yet, so I will coordinate first,” he concluded, indicating a commitment to address the serious nature of the attack.
Summary
Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator for KontraS, sustained severe injuries in an acid attack by two unidentified assailants in Central Jakarta on Thursday night, March 12. The perpetrators, riding a scooter, doused Yunus with corrosive acid, causing 24 percent body burns, notably affecting his hands, face, chest, and eyes. This brutal incident occurred shortly after Yunus attended a podcast event, and no valuables were stolen from him.
KontraS firmly believes the attack was not a robbery but a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices and human rights defenders. The Central Jakarta Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit has initiated an investigation into the incident, even without an official report from the victim. Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, initially unaware, has pledged to coordinate relevant parties to address this serious matter.