JAKARTA: Two men on a motorbike threw acid in the face of an Indonesian rights activist, leaving him badly hurt and prompting calls on Friday (Mar 13) for a thorough investigation amid concerns of democratic backsliding in the country.
Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the KontraS rights group, sustained serious injuries to his face, an eye, hands and chest in the attack in Jakarta late Thursday.
Andrie was riding a motorbike when he was approached by two men on a scooter, one of whom threw acid at him, according to KontraS coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya. Both attackers had their faces concealed.
Andrie, who had previously received threats for his activism, was rushed to hospital with burns to 24 percent of his body, said Dimas.
“We view this acid attack as an attempt to silence critical voices in society,” he added.
UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was “deeply concerned” by the “horrific acid attack”.
“Those responsible for this cowardly act of violence must be held to account,” he said on X. Human rights defenders “must be protected in their vital work and able to raise without fear issues of public concern”.
Andrie has been a vocal critic of moves to increase the influence of the military in the Indonesian government and had just finished recording a podcast on the topic when he was attacked.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-activist-acid-attack-andrie-yunus-5993076
