On the night of March 12, 2026, the streets of central Jakarta bore witness to a chilling act of violence that has reverberated across Indonesia and beyond. Andrie Yunus, a prominent human rights activist and deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was doused with acid by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle, leaving him with severe burns to his face, eyes, chest, and hands. The incident, captured in harrowing detail by CCTV footage, has sparked outrage among civil society, rights organizations, and international observers, all of whom are demanding swift justice and greater protections for activists in the country.
According to KontraS, Yunus had just finished recording a podcast at a legal aid office late that evening. The episode, pointedly titled "Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia," discussed the military's growing influence in civilian affairs—a topic that has become increasingly contentious in recent years. As he left on his motorbike, two men on another motorcycle approached, and the passenger flung a corrosive substance at him. The footage shows Yunus howling in agony before bystanders rushed to his aid and took him to the hospital.
Medical reports confirmed the severity of his injuries, with burns covering 24% of his body. Dimas Bagus Arya, coordinator at KontraS, called the attack "an attempt to silence critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders." Arya further noted that Yunus had received a series of threatening phone calls from eight unknown numbers between March 9 and 12, just days before the assault. "Such patterns of intimidation indicate systematic efforts to spread fear among those actively engaged in advocacy and the defense of human rights," Arya said in a written statement, as reported by ABC and UCA News.
The timing of the attack has raised additional alarm. Earlier that same day, Yunus had attended a meeting with fellow activists to discuss a fact-finding commission's report on the mass arrests of activists and students during the violent protests of August 2025. Those protests, which erupted over low wages and lawmakers' lavish perks, were the most turbulent of President Prabowo Subianto's tenure, resulting in the arrest of 6,719 individuals nationwide, according to a joint report by KontraS, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, and the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.
Yunus is no stranger to confrontation. In March 2025, he made headlines for leading a group of activists in storming a closed-door legislative meeting that was reportedly discussing proposals to expand the military's role in government. Since that incident, Arya said, Yunus had faced ongoing harassment—mysterious phone calls and unknown individuals visiting his office—underscoring the risks faced by those who challenge Indonesia's powerful institutions.
The attack has drawn swift condemnation from a broad coalition of over 300 civil society and rights groups, who issued a joint statement declaring, "This attack cannot be separated from the context of the victim's work as a human rights defender who has consistently exposed abuses of power, human rights violations, and the shrinking civil space in Indonesia." The statement went on to vow, "We will continue to monitor this case until the perpetrators and those responsible are brought to justice and punished."
International concern has also been pronounced. On X (formerly Twitter), United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his alarm, posting, "Deeply concerned by horrific acid attack on Andrie Yunus, the Deputy External Affairs Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence. Those responsible for this cowardly act of violence must be held to account. HRDs [human rights defenders] must be protected in their vital work & able to raise without fear issues of public concern."
Within Indonesia, political leaders and religious figures have echoed these calls for accountability. Andreas Hugo Pareira, a member of the Indonesian parliament, told reporters, "The police must immediately conduct an investigation to uncover the perpetrator and the motive behind this brutal and deeply inhumane attack. There is no point in this country having a police force if it cannot find the perpetrator and reveal their motive." Reverend Gomar Gultom, former chairman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, urged President Subianto to "truly pay serious attention to this incident," emphasizing, "The state must provide full guarantees for a thorough investigation and ensure that similar incidents do not happen again." Lucius Karus, a Catholic political observer, went even further, warning that the attack "raises an alarm for democracy under the Prabowo Subianto regime."
For many Indonesians, the attack on Yunus is a stark reminder of the country's fraught history with military involvement in civilian life. During the authoritarian rule of President Suharto from the 1960s to the 1990s, the armed forces wielded significant control over politics and society. While subsequent reforms aimed to curtail military influence, concerns have resurfaced in recent years as the government has considered legislative changes that could expand the military's role once again. Yunus and other activists have been outspoken in their opposition, warning that such moves threaten to erode Indonesia's hard-won democratic gains.
Police have moved quickly to investigate the attack, with National Police Public Relations Division head Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir confirming that the crime scene has been processed and two witnesses have been questioned as of March 14. "Police have taken several steps, particularly processing the crime scene, as well as carrying out a series of investigative actions based on the police report," Isir told the press. He assured the public, "We guarantee protection for anyone who provides information. We will work seriously and with full commitment to bring this case to light and to identify and arrest the perpetrator, whoever they may be." Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Budi Hermanto added that investigators are continuing to interview witnesses and gather evidence.
The attack has also reignited debate about the safety of rights defenders and government critics in Indonesia. As Arya put it, "We assess that this acid attack constitutes an attempt to silence critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders." The scale of the response from civil society—over 300 organizations rallying in support—underscores the depth of concern about shrinking civic space and the dangers facing those who dare to speak out.
As Yunus recovers from his injuries, the case serves as a litmus test for Indonesia's commitment to democracy, transparency, and the rule of law. With the world watching, activists and citizens alike are demanding answers—and justice—for one of their own.