Nadira Rahmadini – United Nations human rights experts have criticized Indonesia's decision to prosecute four military personnel accused in the acid attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus through a military court, warning that the process risks undermining accountability and transparency.
In a statement issued on June 3, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Andrea Bolanos Vargas and Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan called for the case to be transferred to the civilian justice system and tried publicly.
"The use of a military trial in a case involving an extreme and targeted acid attack on a civilian raises serious concern regarding accountability, independence and transparency," the experts said.
Yunus was attacked with acid in Central Jakarta on March 12, 2026, shortly after recording a podcast discussing the militarization of civil and political affairs in Indonesia. The assault left him with severe and permanent injuries, including burns affecting his eyes, skin and joints, requiring long-term medical treatment.
Four members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces were subsequently detained and charged. Their trial began before Military Court II-08 Jakarta on April 29.
The UN experts argued that handling the case through the military justice system could reinforce concerns over impunity in Indonesia, particularly in cases involving alleged human rights violations committed by military personnel.
"The processing of this case through the military justice system risks perpetuating longstanding patterns of impunity and fragmented accountability in Indonesia's dual justice system," they said.
They also noted that military courts in Indonesia have historically provided limited public access and often lack mechanisms to ensure accountability beyond the direct perpetrators.
The experts further questioned prosecutors' decision to pursue charges of "premeditated aggravated assault," arguing that the charges do not adequately reflect the severity of the attack.
"The decision to issue the defendants with a lesser charge of 'premeditated aggravated assault' does not adequately account for the severity and impact of this life-threatening attack," the statement said.
According to the experts, framing the attack as a personal dispute risks obscuring the possibility of broader responsibility behind the assault.
"The framing of the crime as a 'personal vendetta' obscures the identification of the intellectual authors behind this premeditated attack and dilutes institutional responsibility," they added.
The UN experts urged Indonesian authorities to investigate and prosecute the case through the civilian justice system in line with international human rights standards, while ensuring protection and continued medical care for Yunus.
They also confirmed that they remain in communication with the Indonesian government regarding the case.