Acid Attack on Indonesian Rights Activist Sparks Fears of Escalating Repression
Jakarta, Indonesia – A brutal acid attack on a prominent Indonesian human rights activist has ignited concerns about escalating repression and impunity within the country’s military, prompting calls for an independent investigation from international observers and local organizations. Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator at KontraS, a non-governmental organization focused on the disappeared and victims of violence, was attacked on the evening of March 12, 2026, in Jakarta’s Menteng district.
Yunus, a vocal critic of the Indonesian military, suffered burns to his face, chest, and hands – approximately 24 percent of his body – and may have lost sight in his right eye, according to reports. He was ambushed by two men on a motorcycle while returning home from recording a podcast interview at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.
The attack comes amidst growing anxieties over policies adopted by President Prabowo Subianto since taking office in October 2024, which critics say have eroded human rights protections and created a hostile environment for civil society. In March 2025, amendments to the Armed Forces Law expanded the military’s role in civilian sectors, a move activists fear will lead to increased military influence and potential abuses.
“The brutal acid attack…raises grave concerns for Indonesia’s entire human rights community,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “President Prabowo should set up an independent fact-finding team to investigate the attack…to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.”
Indonesian military police have arrested four personnel from the Indonesian Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) in connection with the attack: a captain, two lieutenants, and a sergeant. However, discrepancies have emerged between the initials of suspects released by the National Police and those provided by the military police, raising questions about whether all those involved have been identified. CCTV footage released by the National Police shows the attack unfolding and captures Yunus being followed in the days leading up to the incident, including at a protest and during a visit to his parents. More than 2,000 images from 86 CCTV cameras were analyzed as part of the investigation.
The case is further complicated by the legal framework governing investigations into military personnel. Under Indonesian law, civilian police have limited authority to investigate crimes committed by soldiers, with investigations typically handled by military tribunals. Human Rights Watch has documented a lack of transparency, independence, and impartiality within the Indonesian military justice system, citing a history of failing to adequately investigate and prosecute serious human rights abuses.
This isn’t the first time KontraS has been targeted. In 2001, a bomb was sent to the home of the organization’s founding coordinator, Munir Thalib, while he was investigating alleged military involvement in abductions. Thalib was later poisoned and died in 2004, a case that remains controversial with limited accountability for those responsible.
President Prabowo has publicly condemned the attack, stating, “This is a barbaric act, we must pursue it. We must investigate. Who ordered them, who paid?” However, activists are urging him to go further and establish a truly independent fact-finding team, free from military influence.
More than 420 organizations have issued statements condemning the attack and calling for a full investigation. The incident has also drawn attention to a proposed bill on combating disinformation and foreign propaganda, which some fear could be used to stifle dissent and target government critics. Prabowo has repeatedly expressed concerns about “foreign puppets,” fueling anxieties about a potential crackdown on civil society groups receiving international assistance.
The attack on Yunus underscores a worrying trend of increasing restrictions on civil society and a potential rollback of human rights protections in Indonesia. The outcome of the investigation and the commitment to accountability will be crucial in determining the future of human rights in the country.
