A senior officer in the Indonesian military has stepped down following an acid attack on a human rights activist, a spokesperson said on Thursday (26th March). Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, also known as KontraS, suffered burns on approximately 20% of his face and body after assailants on a motorcycle threw acid at him on 12th March. The attack drew condemnation locally and internationally. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, called the assault a “cowardly act of violence.”
Military spokesperson Aulia Dwi Nasrullah confirmed to Reuters that Yudi Abrimantyo, the military’s intelligence unit chief, had handed over his position as a form of responsibility for the attack. Indonesia’s military had previously announced the arrest of four officers from the intelligence unit. If found guilty, punishments could range from disciplinary action to dishonourable discharge. Yudi Abrimantyo was not among the four arrested and could not be reached for comment.
The arrested officers were from the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), with ranks ranging from captain to sergeant and representing different branches, including the Navy and Air Force. The military police are leading the investigation, though civil society groups have expressed concern about potential impunity due to the armed forces’ historical record.
Concerns over the erosion of democratic values in Indonesia have grown amid the military’s increasing involvement in civilian affairs and state-run businesses under President Prabowo Subianto, a retired general. In a roundtable interview last week, Prabowo described the attack on Andrie as “terrorism,” pledging a thorough investigation and no impunity.
Hundreds of civil society groups, including Amnesty International, have described the assault as attempted murder. Andrie had recently recorded a podcast discussing military expansion before the attack.
The assault occurred late on 12th March in Central Jakarta, shortly after Andrie finished recording the podcast at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation. Two men on a motorcycle threw acid at him, causing severe chemical burns affecting his face, hands, chest, and areas near his eyes. KontraS reported that Andrie remains in intensive care at a Jakarta hospital following surgery on Wednesday to treat injuries to his right eye and skin grafts on his chest, shoulder, and around his eye.
In response to the stepping down of the intelligence chief, KontraS urged President Prabowo to establish an independent investigation team and to handle the case in civil courts rather than military courts, echoing a call by Human Rights Watch earlier this week. “What happened to Andrie Yunus is a serious crime that occurred in a civilian space, outside of the context of military work and state defence operations,” KontraS and other civil society groups said in a joint statement.
Human Rights Watch emphasised the need for a presidential decree to create an independent fact-finding team, citing concerns about accountability in cases involving military personnel. International observers, including Front Line Defenders, have condemned the attack and called for full protection of human rights defenders.
Andrie Yunus’s work with KontraS focuses on documenting enforced disappearances and state violence. He has been a vocal critic of policies that increase military influence in civilian affairs. President Prabowo’s administration has faced scrutiny for these developments, and while the pledge of no impunity and a full investigation has been welcomed, critics argue that only an independent civilian-led probe can ensure transparency.
The stepping down of the intelligence chief represents institutional responsibility but does not replace the demand for a comprehensive judicial process. As Indonesia continues to navigate its democratic framework, this case has become a focal point in discussions on human rights protections and the separation between military and civilian spheres.
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