To:
General Listyo Sigit Prabowo
Chief of Indonesian National Police
Indonesian National Police Headquarter
Jl. Trunojoyo No.3, Jakarta Selatan, DKI Jakarta,
Indonesia 12110
Dear Minister,
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide. Founded in 1993, CIVICUS has over 17,000 members in more than 175 countries.
We are writing to you regarding the recent attack of human rights defender Andrie Yunus. On the evening of 12 March 2026, he became the victim of a targeted acid attack by two unidentified perpetrators, while driving his motorcycle in Central Jakarta. Two unidentified men on a motorcycle threw acid at Andrie Yunus, causing severe chemical burns on his hands, face, chest, and eyes.
The attack occurred immediately after he participated in a podcast on ‘Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia’, a central topic of his human rights work.
Andrie Yunus is a human rights defender and the Deputy Coordinator for External Affairs of KontraS, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan). Founded in 1998, it is one of Indonesia's leading human rights organisations. KontraS monitors human rights situation in Indonesia and documents cases of enforced disappearances and state violence.
Andrie Yunus has been previously targeted with intimidation and harassment due to his efforts to oppose the revision of Indonesia's Military Law (RUU TNI), which allows active-duty military officers to hold positions in 14 state institutions. The ratification of this law in March 2025 led to a significant expansion of the military into civilian and political affairs. He was also a member of the Fact-Finding Commission (KPF), which has been conducting an independent investigation into the nationwide protests and violations that occurred in Indonesia in August 2025.
CIVICUS believes these actions are a reprisal for his human rights work. Under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by consensus by all States at the General Assembly, States have the overarching duty to protect human rights defenders and to take all measures necessary to create a safe and enabling environment, online and offline, in which all human rights defenders can operate free from hindrance and insecurity. States also have a duty to conduct prompt and impartial investigations of alleged violations against human rights defenders and to provide an effective remedy.
Indonesia also has obligations to investigate this attack under the National Human Rights Commission Regulation (Perkomnas HAM) Number 5 of 2015 concerning Procedures for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
We therefore request your office to take following steps:
- Promptly open an impartial, thorough and effective investigation into the attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus. Ensure the findings are made public and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Ensure that Andrie Yunus receives the necessary medical treatment and the Victim and Witness Protection Agency provide protection to him, his family and staff at KontraS, according to their wishes.
- Guarantee that all human rights defenders can carry out their work without fear of reprisals, as established in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Sincerely,
Reylynne Dela Paz
Advocacy & Campaigns Lead
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
CC: Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Indonesia's Minister of Home Affairs
Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UN in Geneva
Anita A. Wahid, Indonesia's Representative to AICHR
