Dozens of mothers and students staged a powerful solidarity rally for human rights defender Andrie Yunus at the Gadjah Mada University Roundabout in Yogyakarta on Saturday, March 14th. Amidst this surging wave of public support, police have confirmed that National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo is giving “special attention” to the escalating case.
Demonstrators carried poignant posters expressing their unwavering solidarity and demanding that authorities swiftly apprehend the perpetrators, while also calling for the immediate unmasking of the intellectual masterminds behind the brutal acid attack.
“There must be no more intimidation and criminalization,” declared Naysilla Rose, one of the impassioned participants at the rally.
Cila, as she is affectionately known, emphasized that the state bears the fundamental responsibility to be present and to guarantee human rights defenders the unhindered freedom to express their opinions, speak out, and champion the rights of civil society.
She described the horrific attack on Andrie Yunus as an alarmingly clear and present danger, a stark reminder that such acts of terror could tragically befall anyone.
“It feels like a knife is already very close to our throats, incredibly close,” she stated with urgency. “And it is time for us to build collective strength together.”
Cila, who is actively involved with the “Suara Ibu Indonesia” (Voice of Indonesian Mothers) community alongside students from various campuses, underscored the critical need for public solidarity with Andrie Yunus.
“We gather together, strengthening the bonds of solidarity for Andrie,” she firmly affirmed.
Beyond carrying posters, the participants also brought flowers and distributed ‘takjil’ – light snacks and drinks – for a communal breaking of the fast, adding a poignant dimension to their demonstration.
A Recurring Pattern of Intimidation
The terrorization of activists and democracy advocates is, regrettably, far from a new phenomenon in Indonesia. Previously, several public figures and activists who criticized Sumatra’s flood management also received ominous packages containing chicken carcasses and Molotov cocktails, highlighting a disturbing pattern of attempts to silence critical voices.
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Furthermore, Cila highlighted that numerous human rights violation cases continue to remain unresolved to this day. She accused authorities of lacking the courage to expose the masterminds behind these incidents, lamenting that these cases are consistently left unaddressed.
“It feels like our pleas are met with a bitter smile and a laugh because, as we’ve seen from ancient times until now, the issues consistently raised by the ‘Kamisan’ (Thursday) protests seem to have no answers, no resolution,” she profoundly lamented.
During the rally, Cila urgently called for the state to resolve this case within a maximum of seven days. “The government should be able to conclude this investigation and reveal who the masterminds are,” she asserted.
Another participant, Wasingatu Zakiyah, delivered an impassioned speech, also demanding that authorities swiftly uncover the full truth behind the attack on Andrie Yunus.
“If this case remains unresolved, the state truly does not exist,” she declared emphatically, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
310 Organizations and Individuals Condemn Terror Against Andrie Yunus
A formidable coalition of 310 organizations and individuals, identifying themselves as the Civil Society Coalition, issued a powerful statement vehemently condemning and denouncing the horrific acid attack on Andrie Yunus in the early hours of Friday, March 13th, in the Salemba area of Central Jakarta.
The coalition described the assault as “heinous and cowardly,” detailing that it left Andrie Yunus with severe burns covering approximately 24% of his body, including his face, eyes, chest, and both hands, a testament to its brutality.
According to circulating CCTV footage, the attack was meticulously carried out by two individuals who intentionally approached the victim on a motorcycle, directly dousing him with dangerous chemical liquid before swiftly fleeing the scene.
This shocking assault occurred mere moments after Andrie Yunus had concluded public advocacy activities, notably recording a podcast on the critical theme of “Remilitarization and Judicial Review of the TNI Law” at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office.
“This attack shows strong indications of being a planned and organized act,” the coalition’s statement read, further emphasizing, “Such actions are not merely ordinary violence, but potentially intended to take the victim’s life.”
The coalition unequivocally asserts that this attack cannot be separated from Yunus’s tireless work as a human rights defender, who has consistently and bravely exposed abuses of power, pervasive human rights violations, and the alarming shrinking of civic space across Indonesia.
In the crucial days leading up to the incident, Yunus had also received various insidious forms of intimidation, including suspicious calls from unknown numbers. This disturbing pattern of intimidation, the coalition wrote, clearly indicates a systematic and concerted effort to instill fear among those actively engaged in vital advocacy and human rights defense.
Andrie Yunus’s Human Rights Advocacy Work
According to the coalition’s comprehensive records, Andrie Yunus was a key and dedicated member of the Fact-Finding Commission (KPF), which, over the preceding five months, conducted an independent and exhaustive investigation into a series of tumultuous demonstrations and riots that occurred in August 2025.
Through extensive and meticulous investigative work, the KPF report unveiled several deeply serious and troubling findings. These included the disproportionate use of force by authorities, mass arrests, credible allegations of torture, and the widespread criminalization of both activists and ordinary civilians.
The August 2025 events themselves were tragic, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and hundreds of civilians being unjustly criminalized. These incidents, the coalition noted, starkly marked “one of the largest waves of repression against civil movements since the Reform Era.”
Andrie Yunus had also previously vocalized strong and principled protests against the perceived non-transparent process of revising the TNI Law. On March 15, 2025, he, along with other resolute members of the Civil Society Coalition, boldly broke through the doors of a meeting room at the Fairmont Hotel Jakarta to interrupt a closed-door discussion on the controversial draft TNI Law between the government and the House of Representatives.
This audacious action was a direct and powerful protest against a discussion process that was deliberately closed to the public and, critically, had the potential to revive the ‘dwifungsi’ (dual function) of the military, a concept that grants the armed forces a socio-political role in addition to its defense function.
“It is within this precise context that the brutal attack on Andrie Yunus cannot be viewed as an ordinary criminal act,” the coalition stated emphatically. “The Civil Society Coalition believes that the acid attack on Andrie Yunus constitutes an assault on the civil society movement as a whole.”
In its comprehensive demands, the Civil Society Coalition vehemently urged authorities to reveal the full truth and take unequivocal responsibility by providing absolute clarity on the case handling and immediately implementing robust protective measures for all individuals actively voicing their opinions, including human rights defenders.
“We warn that this case must not end up like many other cases of terror and violence against human rights defenders, which have tragically evaporated without clarity or justice,” the coalition warned.
Further urgent demands include the immediate apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators, as well as the full and transparent disclosure of all involved parties and the intellectual masterminds behind this heinous attack, stressing that the investigation must extend far beyond merely the field perpetrators.
Additionally, the Civil Society Coalition called on the government to take concrete and meaningful steps to protect Andrie Yunus and other human rights activists, emphasizing that this must involve “not merely issuing formal statements” but decisive action.
They also strongly urged the government to ensure comprehensive recovery for Yunus, guaranteeing the best possible medical care and rehabilitation for both the victim and his family following the brutal attack, including full compensation for all material and immaterial losses incurred.
“There must be no room for terror against human rights defenders in a country that proudly claims to be a democracy,” the joint coalition declared with unwavering resolve.
In a separate statement, National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo reportedly vowed his special attention to the case, signaling its high priority.
“We convey that the National Police Chief, as the leader of the Polri, has given special attention to the handling and disclosure of this case,” said the Head of the National Police’s Public Relations Division, Inspector General Jhonny Edison Isir, on Friday, March 13th.
Police, Jhonny added, would conduct a thorough, multi-layered investigation involving the Central Jakarta Police Resort, Jakarta Metropolitan Police, and the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, ensuring a comprehensive approach.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, expressed his firm conviction that the violence perpetrated against Andrie Yunus was “planned and organized.”
“I urge law enforcement officials, especially the National Police, to ensure a thorough investigation reaching the intellectual authors, not just the perpetrators on the ground,” he stated unequivocally.
This article will be continuously updated.
Journalist Furqon Ulya Himawan in Yogyakarta contributed to this report.
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Summary
Human rights defender Andrie Yunus was severely injured in a brutal acid attack in Central Jakarta, prompting a solidarity rally in Yogyakarta by mothers and students demanding justice. Demonstrators called for the immediate apprehension of perpetrators and the unmasking of intellectual masterminds behind the attack, which they view as a dangerous, recurring pattern of intimidation against activists. National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo has confirmed he is giving “special attention” to this escalating case.
Andrie Yunus’s advocacy includes investigating the 2025 protests and opposing the non-transparent revision of the TNI Law, suggesting the assault was a planned act linked to his work. A formidable coalition of 310 organizations condemned the attack as “heinous and cowardly,” asserting it constitutes an assault on the civil society movement. They demand a thorough investigation, full disclosure of those involved, and robust protection for human rights defenders, while also urging comprehensive recovery support for Yunus.