Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan (KontraS), alongside the Tim Advokasi untuk Demokrasi (TAUD – Advocacy Team for Democracy), has voiced significant concerns regarding the recent arrests of four individuals suspected of involvement in the acid attack on human rights defender Andrie Yunus. The organizations expressed profound shock at the perceived haste of the arrests, casting doubt on their underlying basis and procedural mechanisms.
Fadhil Alfathan, a legal representative from TAUD, highlighted a critical jurisdictional issue. He pointed out that the arrests were carried out by the Puspom TNI (Military Police Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces), despite the ongoing investigation being actively pursued by the Polda Metro Jaya (Jakarta Metropolitan Police). “We are quite astounded today by these rapid developments. The arrests of four individuals, whom the TNI Information Center’s press conference identified as BAIS TNI members, have already taken place,” Fadhil stated to reporters after a press conference held at the YLBHI Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 18.
Fadhil further questioned the timing, noting that just the day prior, the TNI had publicly affirmed that it was still conducting an internal investigation. This perceived discrepancy made the swift arrests appear highly irregular. He also challenged the legal foundation for the Puspom TNI’s actions, emphasizing that the official legal proceedings for the case were already in the hands of the police. “What is the basis for the arrest of these four individuals? We are concerned that these four might not be the actual perpetrators,” Fadhil added, articulating a central fear.
Beyond immediate concerns, the advocacy groups suspect a deliberate attempt to narrow the scope of the case, focusing solely on the direct perpetrators without identifying or pursuing the intellectual masterminds behind the heinous attack. “Alternatively, this could be an effort to diminish the seriousness of this issue, reducing it to an individual incident rather than recognizing it as an attempted assassination against a human rights defender,” Fadhil elaborated. Consequently, KontraS and the legal team have urged the Puspom TNI to immediately transfer the four apprehended suspects to the police, ensuring their processing through the general court system. “We implore the Puspom TNI, having made the arrests, to hand the perpetrators over to the Polda Metro Jaya, who possess existing evidence and are conducting an intensive investigation and inquiry,” Fadhil asserted.
According to Fadhil, proceedings in the general court system are inherently more transparent and accountable compared to military tribunals. He emphasized, “If arrests have been made, simply hand them over so they can be tried in an open general court process, a judicial process that is relatively more accountable.” Echoing this sentiment, Jane, a representative from KontraS, adamantly stressed that the attack must not be misconstrued as mere assault. Instead, it should be framed as an act of attempted premeditated murder targeting a human rights defender. “An attack on a human rights defender cannot simply be interpreted as an assault case. This should unequivocally be prosecuted under articles pertaining to premeditated murder,” Jane affirmed.
She further underscored the paramount importance of a transparent and impartial legal process, advocating for the case to be handled by the general judiciary as a fundamental demonstration of state accountability. On another critical front, Fadhil expressed deep apprehension about the case potentially being processed through the military justice system, which he views as particularly susceptible to conflicts of interest and impunity. “The military judiciary is highly vulnerable to impunity because the perpetrators, prosecutors, and judges all operate within the same institutional framework,” he explained.
Fadhil reiterated that the advocacy groups remain unconvinced that the four individuals currently under arrest are indeed the primary perpetrators. Furthermore, he noted a distinct absence of visible efforts to investigate the intellectual actors or the underlying motives driving the attack. “We are worried that this case will simply be ‘bonsai-ed’ or minimized to only the field-level actors,” Fadhil concluded, expressing profound skepticism.
Earlier, during a press conference at TNI Headquarters on Wednesday, March 18, the Commander of the TNI Military Police Center (Danpuspom), Major General Yusri Nuryanto, had revealed the identities of the four suspects in the acid attack against KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus. All four were identified as members of the Denma BAIS TNI (Headquarters Detachment of the Strategic Intelligence Agency of the Indonesian National Armed Forces), drawn from two branches: the Navy (AL) and the Air Force (AU). Yusri detailed that the four suspects held varying ranks, from officer to non-commissioned officer. “We confirm that all four suspected perpetrators are members of Denma BAIS TNI. Their initials are NDP, holding the rank of Captain. Then, SL, a First Lieutenant. Followed by BHW, also a First Lieutenant. And finally, ES, with the rank of Sergeant Second Class,” he stated.
Summary
KontraS and the Tim Advokasi untuk Demokrasi