Indonesian military prosecutors have sought two-and-a-half years in prison for each of four soldiers charged in connection with an acid attack on a human rights activist. The victim, 27-year-old Andrie Yunus of the KontraS rights group, suffered serious injuries that left him blind in one eye.
Details of the Assault
The attack occurred in March while Yunus was riding a motorbike. According to reports, two men on a scooter threw acid at him just after he had finished recording a podcast concerning the military’s influence on the Indonesian government.
The four defendants—Edi Sudarko, 45. Budi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, 43; Nandala Dwi Prasetia, 40; and Sami Lakka, 41—are members of the military’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS). They face charges of premeditated assault.
Prosecution and Motive
Prosecutor Wasinton Marpaung told a military court in Jakarta that the defendants’ actions were an “extrajudicial act of revenge” that caused physical suffering to the victim and reputational damage to the military. The prosecution maintains that the soldiers acted on their own initiative rather than following official orders.
The motive is linked to anger regarding an incident in 2025, where Yunus and another activist interrupted a meeting held by a lawmaker to protest revisions to the country’s armed forces law. Following the arrests of the BAIS members, the head of the agency, Yudi Abrimantyo, stepped down in what officials described as a “form of responsibility.”
Legal Implications and Next Steps
The case has sparked calls from Yunus and other activists to move the trial to a civilian court. This demand stems from concerns regarding potential cover-ups in a landscape where attacks on activists are rarely punished.
The outcome of these proceedings could influence how individual military members are held accountable for unauthorized actions. The decision regarding the trial’s venue may serve as a significant indicator of how the Indonesian legal system handles military involvement in civilian-facing crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Andrie Yunus?
Andrie Yunus, a 27-year-old member of the KontraS rights group, was attacked with acid by two men on a scooter while riding a motorbike in March, leaving him blind in one eye.
Who is being prosecuted in this case?
Four members of the military’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS)—Edi Sudarko, Budi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, Nandala Dwi Prasetia, and Sami Lakka—are charged with premeditated assault.
Why did the soldiers allegedly attack the activist?
The prosecution contends the soldiers acted on their own initiative due to anger over Yunus and another activist interrupting a lawmaker’s meeting in 2025 to protest changes to the armed forces law.
Should military personnel accused of crimes against civilians be tried in civilian courts?