On March 12, 2026, Andrie Yunus, a 27-year-old deputy coordinator at KontraS, suffered severe burns after two men on a motorcycle threw acid at him in Jakarta’s Menteng district—just minutes after he finished a podcast on Indonesia’s militarization. The attack, linked to four arrested soldiers from the Strategic Intelligence Agency, underscores systemic impunity for state-linked violence against critics.
The Deliberate Nature of the Acid Attack and Its Political Context
Yunus’s injuries—24% burns to his face, chest, and hands, with possible loss of his right eye—were not random. KontraS, Indonesia’s leading watchdog for enforced disappearances and state violence, confirmed the attack was premeditated. Surveillance footage released by the National Police shows the assailants following Yunus on a motorcycle, executing a U-turn, and throwing acid as he rode home from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).
The timing was deliberate: Yunus had just participated in a podcast titled “Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia”, a direct challenge to the military’s expanding role in civilian governance. His activism predates the attack. In March 2025, he opposed the ratification of the Armed Forces Law amendment, which allows active-duty officers to hold positions in 14 state institutions without resigning. Since then, KontraS’s Jakarta office has been under constant surveillance, with army vehicles photographing the premises in March and April 2025.
“The brutal acid attack in downtown Jakarta against a prominent rights activist by alleged military intelligence members raises grave concerns for Indonesia’s entire human rights community.
Yunus had previously reported threats and surveillance to colleagues, including unidentified individuals monitoring his movements. The attack follows a pattern: since 2025, KontraS staff have faced repeated intimidation, including arson during nationwide protests over economic policies—incidents Yunus investigated in a report implicating Badan Intelijen Strategis (BAIS) officers.
Questions Surrounding the Arrests and Military Accountability
Indonesia’s military police arrested four soldiers on March 18, 2026: a captain, two lieutenants, and a sergeant, all from BAIS. However, discrepancies in suspect initials between police and military records raise questions about whether all perpetrators have been identified. The National Police released CCTV footage showing two men matching Yunus’s attackers, but their identities remain unconfirmed.
Human Rights Watch and Front Line Defenders warn that Indonesia’s history of impunity for military-linked crimes—documented in a 2024 UN report—casts doubt on the arrests’ effectiveness. President Prabowo Subianto, a retired general, has not publicly addressed calls to establish an independent fact-finding team, despite demands from over 420 organizations condemning the attack as part of a broader campaign to silence dissent.
“President Prabowo should set up an independent fact-finding team to investigate the attack against Andrie Yunus to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the attack “deeply concerning”, while KontraS labeled it an “attempt to silence critical voices.” Protests in support of Yunus erupted across Indonesia over the weekend, but the military’s influence over civilian institutions—now legally entrenched—complicates justice.
KontraS’s History of Surveillance and the Broader Campaign Against Activists
Yunus’s case is not isolated. Since 2025, Indonesia has seen a surge in attacks on human rights defenders, particularly those challenging the military’s civilian encroachment. The Fairmont Protests of March 2025, where Yunus participated, marked a turning point: protesters faced baton charges, arbitrary detentions, and—now—acid assaults.
KontraS’s 2025 report on BAIS’s role in arson during economic protests aligns with Yunus’s work. His targeting suggests a calculated effort to dismantle organizations documenting state abuses. The Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), under the National Armed Forces, operates with minimal oversight, and its officers have historically evaded accountability for extrajudicial actions.
Yunus’s Medical Condition and the Prospects for Justice Under Military Trials
As of May 31, 2026, Yunus remains hospitalized, with his condition stabilized but long-term effects—including potential vision loss—yet to be fully assessed. The four arrested soldiers face military trials, but critics argue the process lacks transparency. Without an independent investigation, the attack risks becoming another case of impunity in uniform.
Indonesia’s military has long operated beyond civilian scrutiny. The 2025 Armed Forces Law amendment formalized its political reach, embedding officers in key institutions. Yunus’s assault exposes the cost: when critics are silenced with acid, not bullets, the message is clear—dissent is punishable, but accountability is optional.
For Yunus and other defenders, the fight for justice continues. The question is whether Indonesia’s institutions will answer—or if the “invisible hands” planning such attacks will remain unseen.