Indonesia Arrests Four Military Officers Over Acid Attack on Human Rights Activist
Suspects from elite intelligence unit detained as outcry grows over targeting of government critic Andrie Yunus
JAKARTA — March 19, 2026 — Indonesian military police have arrested four officers from an elite intelligence unit over their alleged involvement in a targeted acid attack on a prominent human rights activist, officials confirmed, in a case that has sparked international condemnation and raised fresh concerns about the military’s expanding role in civilian affairs .
The four suspects, members of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) headquarters detachment, were taken into custody on Wednesday and are being held at the Jakarta Military Police Command for investigation, TNI Military Police Commander Major General Yusri Nuryanto announced at a press conference .
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Identified by their initials NDP, SL, BWH, and ES, the suspects come from the Army and Navy and hold ranks ranging from captain to second sergeant, according to officials . They have not yet been formally declared as suspects as investigators continue to examine evidence and establish the motive behind the attack .
Brutal Attack on Government Critic
The assault occurred on the evening of Thursday, March 12, in Central Jakarta’s Salemba I-Talang Street, as Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was riding a motorcycle home . Yunus had just finished recording a podcast episode discussing militarism and the judicial review of military law, organized by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) .
CCTV footage showed two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle approaching Yunus from the opposite direction before throwing a corrosive liquid at him . The chemical struck the right side of his body, including his eyes, face, chest, and hands, with some of his clothing melting from the substance .
Medical examinations revealed that Yunus suffered serious burns covering 20 to 24 percent of his body . He is currently receiving treatment at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital (RSCM) in Jakarta .
Military Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Major General Yusri Nuryanto confirmed that investigators are thoroughly examining all aspects of the case, including the possibility that the attack was ordered by the suspects’ superiors . “We will work professionally and transparently. We will publicly inform all phases of the probe, including the investigation, case filing, and submission of the case to the military court for trial,” he stated .
The case will be processed through the military justice system in accordance with Law No. 3 of 2025 on the Indonesian Military (TNI), which mandates that criminal offenses involving active-duty personnel be handled by military courts . Yusri emphasized that military court proceedings are typically open to the public .
The suspects may be charged under Article 467 of the Criminal Code concerning premeditated assault, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison . Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri confirmed that four suspects have been accused of involvement, with another police official, Iman Imanuddin, stating that more individuals could potentially be implicated .
Separately, Jakarta police released CCTV footage on Wednesday showing the faces of two other suspects in the attack, identified by the initials BHC and MAK, though their connection to the four detained soldiers remains unclear . Police official Iman Imanuddin said authorities would corroborate their findings with the armed forces investigation .
Political Context and Concerns Over Military Power
Yunus has been a vocal critic of the growing prominence of Indonesia’s military in government affairs under President Prabowo Subianto, who took office after a landslide 2024 election victory . Rights groups and students have expressed concern about the use of the military to implement policy goals, which triggered nationwide unrest in August last year .
Major protests erupted in March 2025 when Prabowo’s government passed legislation allowing the military to hold greater roles across government and state-owned enterprises, a move that some civil society organizations viewed as symbolizing a return to the authoritarian rule of former President Suharto, whose three-decade rule was characterized by military control over politics .
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KontraS described the attack as “an attempt to silence critical voices in society, particularly human rights defenders” . The timing of the assault—immediately following Yunus’s podcast appearance discussing the military’s expanding role—has intensified suspicions about the motivation behind the attack.
Human Rights Watch has stated that Indonesia “has undergone further democratic backsliding, crackdowns on protests, media censorship, and intimidation of activists” under President Prabowo .
International Condemnation
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed being “deeply concerned” by the attack and emphasized that “those responsible for this cowardly act of violence must be held to account” .
Chair of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) Habiburokhman condemned the acid attack as a deviant act against President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to upholding fundamental freedom . Komisi III DPR called the attack not merely an ordinary criminal act but “a crime against democracy” and a form of resistance against the government’s commitment to human rights protection .
Calls for Independent Investigation
Alghifari Aqsa, a lawyer representing Yunus, raised questions about the transparency of the investigation and urged the government to form an independent fact-finding team to reveal what he termed the “big operation” behind the attack . “We want authorities to find the masterminds and the people who fund this operation,” Aqsa said .
Civil society organizations have echoed this call, pressing the government to ensure that the investigation reaches beyond the four detained officers to any higher-level instigators who may have ordered or funded the attack .
Official Response
President Prabowo has ordered police to swiftly and transparently investigate the attack, according to a palace official . Major General Yusri pledged a thorough investigation, stating that each stage of the process will be made public, including the investigation, documentation, and transfer of case files to military prosecutors for trial .
The Military Police have collected 86 CCTV footage recordings from around the attack site and are conducting communication analysis as part of their investigation . Yusri confirmed that investigators are examining evidence, questioning witnesses, and reviewing case files from the National Police .
The TNI’s Center for Public Information (Kapuspen) Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah added that this swift detention demonstrates the TNI’s commitment to acting professionally and transparently in line with the President’s attention. “We will not cover up the results of this investigation from the public,” Aulia stated .
As the investigation proceeds, the case has become a critical test of Indonesia’s commitment to protecting human rights defenders and ensuring accountability within its military institutions.
SOURCES / INPUTS
ANTARA News: TNI officers arrested over suspected acid attack on rights activist
The Jakarta Post: TNI, police name suspects in acid attack on Kontras activist
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