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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

TNI Explains Acid Attack on Activist Linked to Personal Revenge

From Tempo · (3h ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Indonesian authorities are investigating an acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus involving four personnel from the State Intelligence Agency (Bais).
  • The military police have transferred the case of the four suspects, identified by initials NDP, SL, BHW, and ES, to the Jakarta Military Court II-08.
  • Officials state the motive for the attack appears to be personal revenge, stemming from a previous incident where Yunus allegedly disrupted a closed meeting discussing the revision of the TNI Law.

The Indonesian military (TNI) has provided an update on the investigation into the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus, confirming that four personnel from the State Intelligence Agency (Bais) are involved. The Pusat Penerangan TNI (Center for Information of the TNI), represented by Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, has urged the public to trust the ongoing judicial process.

Nasrullah stated that the motive behind the attack is believed to be personal revenge, stemming from an incident in 2025 where Yunus allegedly interrupted a closed-door meeting concerning the revision of the TNI Law. This explanation, while providing an initial motive, is expected to be fully elaborated upon during the upcoming public trial.

The Military Police have since handed over the case files of the four suspects—identified by their ranks and initials: Captain NDP, First Lieutenants SL and BHW, and Sergeant Two ES—to the Jakarta Military Court II-08. The prosecution, led by Head of Military Prosecutor II-07 Jakarta Colonel Corps Hukum (Chk) Andri Wijaya, maintains that the personal vendetta was triggered by Yunus's actions at the hotel meeting.

I think the motive has been explained, that it was personal revenge, and we can see that in the trial that will be held openly.

— Aulia Dwi NasrullahHead of Information Center of the TNI explaining the initial findings on the motive for the acid attack.

Tempo magazine's reporting in late March shed further light on the alleged planning of the attack, suggesting it was orchestrated from a Bais TNI official residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the perpetrators before the attack occurred in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

From an Indonesian perspective, this case raises critical questions about the conduct of intelligence personnel and the potential for abuse of power. While the authorities emphasize transparency and a thorough judicial process, the involvement of intelligence agents in such a violent act, allegedly motivated by personal grievances related to legislative discussions, is deeply concerning. The public will be closely watching the trial to ensure accountability and to understand the full extent of what transpired.

Yes, there was (a hotel Fairmont incident). But more clearly, we can see and hear the evidence in the trial later.

— Andri WijayaHead of Military Prosecutor II-07 Jakarta confirming a previous incident involving the victim and a closed-door meeting.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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