Who is Andrie Yunus, the Rights Defender Attacked with Acid in Jakarta?

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was targeted in a harrowing acid attack in Central Jakarta on Thursday night, March 12, 2026. He is a human rights defender widely recognized for his advocacy within the security sector and for civil liberties.

CCTV footage captured two individuals on a motorcycle executing the assault by approaching Andrie from the opposite direction. Police investigators later disclosed that a total of four perpetrators were involved in the coordinated strike.

KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya reported that the assailants doused Andrie’s upper body with acid, causing him to collapse. "The victim immediately screamed in pain and fell off his motorcycle," Dimas stated on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The corrosive liquid severely impacted the right side of his body, including his eyes, face, chest, and hands, even melting portions of his clothing. Medical assessments confirmed that Andrie sustained serious chemical burns covering 24 percent of his body.

Currently, Andrie remains under intensive medical supervision at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta.

The following is a look at Andrie Yunus’ track record as an advocate and human rights defender at KontraS.

Pursuing Legal Studies

Andrie earned his Bachelor of Laws from the Jentera Law School Indonesia (STHI) in Jakarta in 2020, specializing in Constitutional Law and Legal Studies.

Before his higher education, he attended State Senior High School 1 Cicurug in Sukabumi, following his graduation from State Junior High School 1 Cicurug and State Elementary School Cicewol.

His leadership qualities surfaced early as he served as the Student Council Chair at State Senior High School 1 Cicurug for the 2014-2015 term. He later chaired the Student Executive Board (BEM) at STHI Jentera during the 2018-2019 period.

Engaging in Legal Aid

Andrie has served as the Deputy Coordinator for External Affairs at KontraS since February 2025, spearheading legal advocacy and human rights missions.

Previously, he led the Legal Division at KontraS from July 2023 to February 2025, after serving as a staff member in the same department starting in March 2022.

In these roles, Andrie managed various strategic advocacy efforts, including monitoring human rights abuses, assisting victims, drafting investigative reports, and pushing for security sector reform and the eradication of torture.

Before his tenure at KontraS, Andrie, who was born in Bogor on June 16, 1998, worked at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) as an Assistant for Legal Aid Devotion (APBH) and completed several internships there.

He also interned at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute for Women and Children (LBH APIK Jakarta), focusing on gender-based legal advocacy and protection of female victims of violence.

Andrie was officially licensed as a lawyer by the Indonesian Advocates Association (PERADI) in November 2023. His credentials include specialized training from the Anti-Corruption Academy of the Indonesia Memanggil 57+ Institute, Legal Aid Practice Workshop (KALABAHU) from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute in 2020, paralegal training from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), and structural gender-based legal aid training from LBH APIK Jakarta.

Researching Security Force Violence Issues

Andrie’s professional contributions include several landmark reports published by civil society organizations, particularly KontraS.

His portfolio includes investigations into extrajudicial killings and civilian mutilation in Timika, Papua; the infamous human cages in Langkat, North Sumatra; and preliminary reports on the 2023 shooting of demonstrators in Bangkal.

Throughout 2025 and into 2026, Andrie remained a vocal advocate on several fronts. He notably broke into a closed-door House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I meeting regarding the Indonesian National Military Law at Hotel Fairmont, Jakarta, on March 15, 2025.

On that occasion, KontraS and its coalition partners rejected the problematic National Military Law amendments and criticized the non-transparent nature of the legislative discussions.

Andrie also testified as a witness in Constitutional Court Case Number 81/PUU-XXIII/2025 regarding the formal testing of the amended National Military Law.

Furthermore, he was a member of the Fact Finding Commission (KPF) investigating the mass arrests of young people following the wave of demonstrations in August 2025.