KontraS Urges Military Court to Uncover 'Mastermind' in Acid Attack Case

Jakarta, Indonesia – The Indonesian human rights organization KontraS (Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence) is demanding greater transparency and accountability in the legal proceedings surrounding the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus. As the case progresses to the Military Court II-08 Jakarta, KontraS asserts that the internal military investigation has been insufficient, failing to uncover the full truth and potentially shielding those truly responsible.

“

The public and the victims have the right to detailed investigation results to ensure the principle of justice has been met.

Dimas Bagus Arya, Coordinator of KontraS, expressed strong reservations about the investigation process. He stated that the proceedings, from the initial investigation to the current transfer of case files, have not adequately demonstrated the principles of accountability and transparency. KontraS believes that the public and the victims have a right to detailed findings from the investigation to ensure that justice is served.

A significant point of contention for KontraS is the discrepancy in the number of individuals implicated in the attack. While the military is prosecuting four suspects, KontraS, through its own investigation by the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), has identified indications of 16 people involved in the surveillance and planning stages leading up to the acid attack. KontraS questions whether the four suspects being brought to trial are indeed part of this larger group, emphasizing the need to identify and prosecute all individuals involved, particularly the alleged masterminds.

“

In the process of law enforcement within the military, up until now (the case files) have been transferred to the Military Court 2-08 Jakarta, it has not reflected the principles of accountability and transparency at all.

KontraS is concerned that the case might only address the 'foot soldiers' involved, leaving the orchestrators of the attack unpunished. Andrie Yunus himself has voiced his lack of confidence in the military justice system through an open letter, stating his intent to issue a vote of no confidence if the proceedings do not extend beyond the field operatives. This stance reflects a broader distrust in institutions that may not be equipped or willing to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into politically sensitive cases.

“

There are indications that 16 people were involved in the series of surveillance before the acid attack occurred.

In response, Major General TNI Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, Head of the Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), assured that the trial would be transparent and professional. He indicated that the four suspects would be presented during the indictment reading. However, KontraS remains skeptical, emphasizing that the true measure of justice will be whether the investigation delves deeper than the immediate perpetrators to expose the full network behind the attack, including those who allegedly masterminded it.

“

I think it will be seen in the trial, they will also be presented. This will be done, once again, openly and we will be professional.