Indonesia Arrests Soldiers Linked to Attack on Military Critic

(MENAFN) Indonesian authorities have taken four soldiers into custody in connection with an acid assault on a prominent activist who has criticised the military’s influence in government, officials said.

Andrie Yunus, a member of the rights group KontraS which investigates forced disappearances, sustained burns on more than 20% of his body after two men on a scooter threw acid at him last week.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed that he was “deeply concerned” about the incident, while KontraS described it as an “attempt to silence critical voices.”

Military police commander Yusri Nuryanto said the motive for the attack is under investigation and confirmed that the four soldiers involved are part of the intelligence unit.

Following the attack, Andrie was hospitalized in Jakarta, where medical examinations revealed burns on his hands, face, chest, and eyes, according to KontraS. The activist had been riding his motorcycle after recording a podcast discussing the growing role of the military in politics.

The assault sparked renewed concern nationwide, with protesters taking to the streets over the weekend to show solidarity. Rights organizations have urged President Prabowo Subianto, a retired general, to establish an independent investigation team. While the president has not publicly addressed these appeals, a spokesperson confirmed that he has ordered an “objective, open and expeditious investigation.”

Andrie has been a vocal opponent of a recent revision to Indonesia’s military law, which increases the involvement of military officers in government, a bill that was passed last year.

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