Indonesian Military Leader Resigns After Acid Attack on Human Rights Activist

A high-ranking Indonesian military intelligence chief has resigned following an acid attack that severely burned a human rights activist. The attack on Andrie Yunus, who advocates against military expansion, has sparked international condemnation and calls for independent investigation.

JAKARTA – A top Indonesian military intelligence commander has resigned in connection with a brutal acid attack that left a prominent human rights advocate with severe burns across his face and body, military officials confirmed Thursday.

Andrie Yunus, who serves as deputy coordinator for KontraS, a human rights organization dedicated to missing persons and violence victims, sustained acid burns covering 20 percent of his face and body when attackers on motorcycles doused him with the corrosive substance on March 12.

The assault has generated widespread outrage both domestically and internationally. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the incident as a “cowardly act of violence.”

Military spokesman Aulia Dwi Nasrullah told Reuters that Yudi Abrimantyo, who headed the military’s intelligence division, completed a “handing over of position” as he takes responsibility for the attack.

The Indonesian armed forces had previously detained four military personnel from the intelligence division in connection with the assault. According to Aulia, those found guilty could face consequences ranging from internal discipline to dishonorable dismissal from service.

Yudi, who was not among the four arrested officers, could not be reached by Reuters for his response.

The attack has heightened worries about Indonesia’s democratic institutions deteriorating. Under President Prabowo Subianto, a former military general, the armed forces have substantially expanded their involvement in civilian affairs and commercial enterprises in what ranks as the world’s third-largest democracy.

During a recent media roundtable, Prabowo characterized the assault on Andrie as “terrorism” and promised a comprehensive investigation with full accountability.

Hundreds of Indonesian civil rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have described the attack as attempted murder. The activist had recently completed recording a podcast discussing military expansion just before the incident occurred.

In response to the intelligence chief’s resignation, KontraS called on Prabowo to establish an independent investigative body for the case, demanding it be processed through civilian rather than military courts – a position also supported by Human Rights Watch earlier this week.

“What happened to Andrie Yunus is a serious crime that occurred in a civilian space, outside of the context of the military work as well as state defence operations,” KontraS and other civil society groups said in a joint statement.