Four Indonesian military officers received prison sentences following their conviction for an acid attack on rights activist Andrie Yunus. The attack occurred after Yunus recorded a podcast critiquing the military’s involvement in civilian affairs. The sentences ranged from one and a half to three years, handed down by a military court in Jakarta.
The accused, members of the military’s Strategic Intelligence Agency, included Sami Lakka and Nandala Dwi Prasetya, both of whom were also dishonorably discharged. Prosecutors had originally sought much harsher penalties, reflecting the gravity of the assault on Yunus, who is associated with KontraS, an organization monitoring violence and enforced disappearances.
Yunus was attacked in March after leaving the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation office. Two men riding a motorcycle threw acid at him, causing severe and lasting injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye and damage to his skin and joints. Medical reports emphasize the need for ongoing treatment and surgeries.
The military court, chaired by Col. Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto, found the four officers guilty of serious premeditated assault. However, the judge clarified that the attack was not ordered by higher military command, limiting the trial’s scope to the individual defendants rather than the institution. This distinction has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups who argue that military courts lack transparency and fail to fully address systemic abuses.
Rights organizations and UN experts have urged for investigations beyond the military justice system, calling for civilian trials that can more effectively scrutinize intimidation and violence against activists challenging the military’s expanded role in politics and society. The verdict, while closing this case, leaves open broader concerns about holding military personnel accountable in Indonesia.