Attack on Kontras activist, Andrie Yunus, is an indicator of the badness of Indonesian democracy

A group of mothers and students in Yogyakarta held a solidarity action, Saturday (14/03) for Andrie Yunus. (BBC Indonesia/Furqon Ulya Himawan)

JAKARTA - Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Andrie Yunus was the victim of a water attack by an unknown person.

The incident occurred in the Central Jakarta area, Thursday (12/3/2026), around 23.00 WIB. At that time, Andrie Yunus had just finished recording a podcast (siniar) at the Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Office, Jakarta, with the theme "Remiliterisme and Judicial Review in Indonesia".

Kontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya said Andrie was immediately rushed to the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) shortly after the incident. He also said that this Kontras member suffered serious injuries.

"From the results of the examination, Andrie suffered 24 percent burns," said Dimas.

Two motorcyclists who were riding together allegedly sprayed hard water towards the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Andrie Yunus, in Central Jakarta, Thursday (12/3/2026) evening. (Screenshot of video)Intimidation of Civilians

The attack on Andrie has received attention from the United Nations (UN). UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk together with Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai urged the police authorities to immediately arrest the perpetrators and thoroughly investigate the actors behind the terror against the human rights defender.

"I am deeply concerned about the horrific water cannon attack on Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS)," said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, quoted via the X @UNHumanRights social media account, Saturday (14/3/2026).

In the statement, Turk stressed that whoever the perpetrator of the "cowardly act of violence" was must be held accountable.

PARA Syndicate also condemned the attack on Andrie Yunus with corrosive liquid. This act of violence, according to PARA Syndicate, not only targets the safety of individuals, but also has the potential to create a wider intimidation effect on civil society that carries out advocacy functions, policy research, and oversight of state power.

Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of Kontras who experienced intimidation and violence in the form of water spraying by unknown people in Central Jakarta, Friday (13/3/2026). (Wikipedia/Calli Patra)

PARA Syndicate emphasized that in a constitutional democracy, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, as well as the academic community are an important part of the public accountability mechanism. Criticism of government policies and advocacy for the protection of citizens' rights are legitimate elements in democratic life.

"When violence is used to silence or intimidate critical voices, then not only the safety of individuals is threatened, but also the integrity of the space for civil liberties that sustain democratic life," PARA Syndicate wrote, in a statement received by VOI.

Before the attack, Andrie was reported to have just completed recording a message regarding the threat of remilitarization and the future of Indonesian democracy.

In March 2025, Andrie Yunus also launched the "Aksi Geruduk Fairmont" to reject the draft TNI Law. For this reason, many parties consider this event to show that the victim was attacked after doing his job as a human rights defender.

Human Rights (HAM) Minister Natalius Pigai gives an exposure during the launch of the press media program and the development of human rights civilization in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The Ministry of Human Rights initiated the program to encourage understanding of human rights through the strategic role of the media as a form of collaboration with the press ecosystem. (ANTARA/Fauzan/hma/tom)

PARA Syndicate assesses that attacks on human rights defenders have never stood alone. Often, attacks arise in a political climate where criticism is beginning to be seen as a threat to power, not as part of the correction process in the democratic system.

"In a democratic system, criticism of the government is part of a healthy correction mechanism and should not be perceived as a threat to the state," continued PARA Syndicate.

Democracy Wounds

Meanwhile, the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) considers the violent attack on Andrie Yunus as brutal violence and a wound for democracy. ICW considers this assassination attempt as an attack on the civil space that must be fully revealed and fought against.

"If the state is not firm, this event will extend the fragile symbol of law enforcement and state protection for citizens, as well as an indicator of the danger of eradicating corruption," said ICW.

Attacks on human rights defenders are a bad indicator of democracy and the eradication of corruption. In a democratic rule of law, public criticism and civil society advocacy are legitimate forms of political participation to oversee power. Violence against critical citizens risks silencing public participation. If left unchecked, this condition will weaken the control mechanism over power and increase the space for abuse of authority, where corruption finds its most comfortable point.

"In fact, open civil space is an important prerequisite for government accountability, including in the eradication of corruption," explained ICW.

"When criticism is seen as a threat and human rights defenders are targeted for intimidation, public scrutiny of power will weaken and abuses of authority will be more difficult to expose," he continued.

Without firm law enforcement, this incident has the potential to perpetuate impunity and at the same time create a sense of fear among civil society that carries out the function of oversight over power.