Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) believes that the alleged involvement of members of the Indonesian Military's (TNI) Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) in the acid attack on Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) activist Andrie Yunus constitutes a serious violation of military intelligence functions.
Fadhil Alfathan, a TAUD representative from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), stated that the information provided by the TNI's Military Police Headquarters (Puspom) regarding the four suspected perpetrators from BAIS indicates a deviation from the agency's intended functions.
"BAIS should to function as an early detection mechanism for threats directly related to the TNI's core duties, as regulated under the TNI Law, not as a tool to spy on citizens", said Alfathan in a statement on Tuesday March 24.
TAUD also believes that discrepancies in statements between law enforcement officials regarding the number of perpetrators also reflect a degree of uncertainty within the legal process.
Previously, the Jakarta Metro Regional Police (Polda) said there is a possibility that the number of perpetrators could be more than four individuals.
Based on this, TAUD is pushing for there to be a verification through independent bodies like as the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) as well as the establishment of an independent Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF).
"Therefore, we are pushing for a verification by independent institutions like Komnas HAM and the formation of an Independent Joint Fact-Finding Team to uncover facts that are objective and comprehensive thorough to taking aim at the field operatives and the intellectual actors [behind the incident]", he stated.
Furthermore, the TAUD is calling for a comprehensive evaluation of the relevant institutions involved, as well as the full disclosure of the motives underlying the incident.
They believe that high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Defence, the TNI commander and the head of BAIS, must be held accountable.
The TAUD is also urging President Prabowo Subianto to establish a TGPF that includes representatives from civil society as well as ensure that the legal proceedings are conducted in a transparent and accountable manner.
In addition to this, they are asking that the perpetrators be tried in a public civilian court.
"Because the attempted premeditated murder constitutes a general criminal offense and the victim is a civilian as well as ensuring the impartial identification of the intellectual actors behind this incident as well as to facilitate effective restitution for the victim", said Alfathan.
On the other hand, TAUD is asking that the TNI Puspom disclose the identities of the suspected perpetrators to the public in order to ensure their well-being, including their rights to legal counsel and protection throughout the investigative process.
Previously, the four TNI soldiers alleged to be involved in the acid attack against Andrie Yunus were identified as members of the BAIS Detachment Headquarters (Denma) from the Navy and Air Force.
They hold the ranks of junior and non-commissioned officers and have been taken into custody and are being detained at the Jakarta Regional Military Command Military Police (Pomdam Jaya).
The acid attack took place on the evening of Thursday March 12 in the Senen area of Central Jakarta. To date, the investigation process to identify all the parties that are involved is still ongoing.
The TNI Information Centre head (Kapuspen) Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah has said that the investigative process regarding the four personnel suspected of assaulting Yunus is ongoing.
"As of now, the investigation into the four personnel alleged to have committed the assault against Mr AY is still ongoing", stated Nasrullah in a press statement on Monday March 23.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Dugaan Keterlibatan Anggota BAIS TNI di Kasus Andrie Yunus Dinilai Langgar Fungsi Intelijen".]