JOINT STATEMENT – Acid Attack On Indonesia’s Human Rights Defender: A Shocking Warning To Civil Society And Democracy
JOINT STATEMENT
“ACID ATTACK ON INDONESIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER: A SHOCKING WARNING TO CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY”
Jakarta, March 13, 2026 — The Federation KontraS and the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) express their strongest condemnation of the acid attack against Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, Andrie Yunus on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Jakarta. The attack took place shortly after Mr. Yunus had completed recording a podcast at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), discussing sensitive topics on “Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia”.
The perpetrator deliberately threw acid at Mr. Yunus while he was riding a motorcycle on a quiet street. This premeditated and brutal attack caused severe burns to his hands, face, chest, and eyes, affecting approximately 24% of his body. Mr. Yunus is currently receiving intensive medical treatment.
This attack is not an isolated criminal incident; it is a targeted effort to intimidate and silence a human rights defender who openly addresses political and legal issues. The timing, method, and focus on a single, high-profile target clearly indicate a deliberate attempt to instill fear and send a message to the wider human rights community in Indonesia.
This violent act underscores the persistent threats and vulnerabilities faced by human rights defenders in Indonesia. Violence and terror continue to be used as instruments to suppress dissent and curtail civil society activities. If state authorities fail to identify both the direct perpetrators and the intellectual actors behind this attack, it will reinforce public perceptions of a culture of impunity in Indonesia’s law enforcement and justice system. Such inaction threatens not only the physical safety of individual defenders but also democracy, freedom of expression, and civic space that are the cornerstone of a functioning democratic state.
We call on the Indonesian authorities to:
- Immediately launch a transparent, thorough, and accountable investigation into the acid attack against Mr. Yunus.
- Identify and prosecute all perpetrators, including those who orchestrated the attack behind the scenes.
- Ensure full protection for Mr. Yunus and his family, as well as for all human rights defenders engaged in advocacy work across Indonesia.
- Enable independent monitoring and investigation by the National Human Rights Commission to guarantee accountability and public trust.
We stress that this attack is not merely an assault on one individual—it is an attack on all civil society actors defending human rights and democracy in Indonesia. Terror and violence will not silence the movement. On the contrary, this shocking attack strengthens the resolve of the human rights community to continue demanding accountability, justice, and protection for those who defend the public interest.
Federasi KontraS
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)