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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

TAUD: Today, Impunity Answers the Acid Attack

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Indonesia’s Advocacy Team for Democracy condemned an appeals ruling that reduced the sentences of four military personnel convicted in the acid attack on KontraS official Andrie Yunus.
  • The ruling handed prison terms ranging from 18 months to 2 years and 6 months, while canceling the dismissal penalties imposed on two defendants.
  • TAUD said the decision failed to address the alleged involvement of more than 16 other people in the attack.

The Advocacy Team for Democracy says an acid attack has been answered with impunity after a military court reduced the sentences of four soldiers convicted over the assault on Andrie Yunus, the external deputy coordinator of Indonesia’s Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, known as KontraS.

“We declare that today, an acid attack has been answered with impunity. The defendants received light sentences, and more than 16 unidentified people remain free,” TAUD representative Fadhil Alfathan said at a news conference outside the Supreme Court on Monday, Sept. 7.

Under the appeals ruling in case No. 56-K/PMT-II/BDG/AL/VI/2026, Second Sergeant Edi Sudarko received two years and six months in prison. First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi received two years, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo received two years, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka received one year and six months. The court also canceled the additional punishment dismissing Edi and Budhi from the military.

We declare that today, an acid attack has been answered with impunity. The defendants received light sentences, and more than 16 unidentified people remain free.

· Fadhil AlfathanTAUD’s representative criticized the appeals ruling at a news conference outside Indonesia’s Supreme Court.

TAUD said the ruling did not provide justice for Andrie and reinforced the impression that military personnel receive special treatment before the law. The appeals panel cited psychological evaluations, the two defendants’ lack of prior convictions, their admissions, family circumstances, and Andrie’s absence from the first-instance trial when it overturned the dismissals.

The group also said the decision left unanswered the suspected role of more than 16 people in the broader attack. TAUD said it had submitted evidence concerning people who allegedly carried out, ordered, planned, financed, or otherwise stood behind the assault. The attack took place on March 12, 2026, while Andrie was challenging Indonesia’s Military Court Law and TNI Law before the Constitutional Court. TAUD said it viewed the assault as part of a pattern of attacks on human rights defenders and activists in Indonesia.

This ruling gives relief to the perpetrators, does not provide justice for the victim, reinforces impunity, and creates the impression that military personnel receive special treatment before the law.

· Fadhil AlfathanHe described TAUD’s assessment of the military court’s appeals decision.
About this summary

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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