Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was subjected to a brutal acid attack by unknown assailants, according to a written statement from the KontraS Working Body received by BBC News Indonesia on Friday afternoon, March 13.
The horrific assault left Yunus with “serious injuries across his body, particularly affecting his right and left hands, face, chest, and eyes,” stated Dimas Bagus Arya, Coordinator of the KontraS Working Body. Following medical examination, it was determined that Andrie sustained 24% body burns, highlighting the severity of the attack.
The incident, as detailed by Dimas, occurred late on Thursday, March 12, around 11:00 PM local time. At the time of the ambush, Andrie Yunus had just finished recording a podcast at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Jakarta. The podcast’s theme, “Remilitarization and Judicial Review in Indonesia,” underscores the critical nature of the work undertaken by KontraS and its advocates.
KontraS vehemently condemned the acid attack, viewing it as a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices within society, especially those of human rights defenders. This act of violence directly contravenes legal frameworks designed to protect such individuals, including Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, Article 66 of Law No. 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, and the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission Regulation No. 5 of 2015 regarding Procedures for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
“This incident demands immediate and widespread attention from all stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies and civil society,” Dimas emphasized. KontraS is urging police authorities to launch a thorough investigation without delay to identify the perpetrators and uncover the true motive behind this heinous assault. He further stressed the potential for such acid attacks to cause “serious, fatal injuries, even leading to death,” underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.
This news will be updated periodically.
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Summary
Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, was subjected to a brutal acid attack by unknown assailants late on Thursday, March 12, after recording a podcast at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Jakarta. The horrific assault left Yunus with serious injuries, including 24% body burns affecting his hands, face, chest, and eyes.
KontraS vehemently condemned the attack, viewing it as a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices and human rights defenders. The organization urged law enforcement to launch a thorough and immediate investigation to identify the perpetrators and uncover their motive, emphasizing the potential for such attacks to cause fatal injuries.