Acid Attack Against Human Rights Defender Andrie Yunus

On the evening of 12 March 2026, human rights defender Andrie Yunus became the victim of a targeted acid attack by two unidentified perpetrators in Central Jakarta. The human rights defender sustained severe chemical burns, including on his hands, face, chest, and eyes. The attack occurred immediately after Andrie Yunus participated in a podcast on ‘Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia’, a central topic of his human rights work.

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Andrie Yunus is a human rights defender and the Deputy Coordinator for External Affairs of KontraS, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan). Founded in 1998, it is one of Indonesia's leading human rights organisations. KontraS monitors human rights situation in Indonesia and documents cases of enforced disappearances and state violence. Andrie Yunus was among the human rights defenders and activists who participated in the Fairmont Protest in March 2025. Since then, he has repeatedly been targeted with intimidation and harassment in connection with his human rights work. At the Fairmont Protest, Andrie Yunus was part of the efforts to oppose the revision of Indonesia's Military Law (RUU TNI), which allows active-duty military officers to hold positions in 14 state institutions without needing to resign. The ratification of this law in March 2025 led to a significant expansion of the military into civilian and political affairs.

On 12 March 2026, Andrie Yunus recorded a podcast at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) in Central Jakarta on the topic of ‘Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia.’ The recording concluded at approximately 23:00. At approximately 23:37, while driving his motorcycle along Jalan Salemba I–Talang in Central Jakarta, two unidentified men on a motorcycle threw acid at Andrie Yunus, causing burns on his hands, face, chest, and eyes. The human rights defender fell from his motorcycle, experiencing severe pain. He was immediately brought to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. Medical examination confirmed burns on approximately 24% of his body.

According to KontraS, none of Andrie Yunus's belongings were stolen during or after the attack, indicating that robbery was not the motive. The organisation affirms that the attack was premeditated as the perpetrators selected the specific time and location immediately after Andrie Yunus's public engagement on militarism in Indonesia. This attack has been the most severe incident in the series of intimidation attempts and violations against KontraS and its staff members. Since March 2025, KontraS's office in Jakarta has been surveiled by unidentified persons and on multiple occasions in March and April 2025, army vehicles were observed stopping outside the office and photographing the premises.

Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the acid attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus and asserts that it was a reprisal for his legitimate and peaceful work in the promotion and protection of human rights in Indonesia. Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned that this attack forms part of a broader and escalating pattern of intimidation targeting KontraS and other human rights defenders in the country.

Front Line Defenders calls on the authorities in Indonesia to:

1. Conduct an immediate, independent, and transparent inquiry of the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, and hold the perpetrators, including any instigators, accountable;
2. Put an immediate end to all forms of harassment, surveillance, and intimidation directed at KontraS, its members, and other human rights defenders and organisations in Indonesia;
3. Ensure that Andrie Yunus receives the necessary medical treatment;
4. Guarantee that all human rights defenders in Indonesia are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals in a safe and enabling environment.