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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

TNI Soldier Testifies: Activist's Interruption Led to Corrosive Liquid Attack Plan

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

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

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A military court heard testimony from Sergeant Edi Sudarko regarding an incident involving KontraS official Andrie Yunus.
  • Sudarko testified that Yunus's interruption of a closed meeting about a TNI revision bill was perceived as arrogant and disrespectful.
  • Sudarko admitted to expressing a desire to harm Yunus, which led to a plan to splash him with corrosive liquid.

The Indonesian military justice system is currently hearing a case involving allegations of assault, specifically the splashing of corrosive liquid on an activist. Central to the proceedings is the testimony of Sergeant Dua Edi Sudarko, a soldier serving in the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).

I felt annoyed seeing Andrie Yunus acting arrogantly, overacting, and impolitely in the video. I considered it trampling on the TNI's self-esteem.

· Sersan Dua Edi SudarkoExplaining his reaction to Andrie Yunus's actions during a meeting.

Sudarko's testimony focused on his perception of the actions of Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator for External Affairs at the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). According to Sudarko, Yunus's interruption of a closed-door meeting between the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and the House of Representatives (DPR) in March 2025, concerning a revision to the TNI Law, was an act of overacting and arrogance. Sudarko stated he felt Yunus's behavior was disrespectful and an affront to the TNI's dignity.

When did you convey your dislike or emotional feelings towards brother Andrie Yunus to the Second Defendant?

· Oditur Militer II-07 JakartaQuestioning Sudarko about when he first expressed his negative feelings towards Yunus.

This perceived disrespect apparently fueled Sudarko's anger, leading him to express a desire to retaliate against Yunus. He recounted telling his roommate, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi (the second defendant), about his strong dislike for Yunus's conduct. The conversation, which took place on March 9, 2026, after midday prayers, led to a discussion about how to 'teach Yunus a lesson'.

Ready, on Monday, March 9 (2026), after we finished the congregational Dhuhr prayer at the Al Ikhlas Mosque.

· Sersan Dua Edi SudarkoStating the date he first discussed his feelings about Yunus with a colleague.

Further discussions reportedly occurred on March 11, 2026, at their barracks, involving other defendants, including Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka. Sudarko showed them a viral video of Yunus's interruption during the meeting at the Fairmont Hotel. It was during this meeting that the idea of splashing Yunus with a corrosive liquid, specifically a rust cleaner, was allegedly proposed as an alternative to physical assault. The prosecution is pursuing charges of assault, not premeditated murder, against the defendants for the incident that occurred on the night of March 12, 2026.

Ready, at that time the Second Defendant said it would be discussed at the barracks.

· Sersan Dua Edi SudarkoRecounting the response he received when expressing his anger.
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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