Tria Sutrisna, Bilal Ramadhan, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform is urging the Supreme Court (MA) and the Judicial Commission (KY) to examine the entire legal process, including the recent appeal court ruling in the case of the acid attack on Andrie Yunus.
The Coalition is demanding that the examination be conducted seriously, openly and accountably. The examination must include the basis for reducing the sentences and reversing the dismissals of two Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers involved in the case.
"[We] urge the Supreme Court and the Judicial Commission to immediately examine the process and quality of the appeal ruling seriously, openly and accountably, especially the basis for reducing the sentences and reversing the dismissals", said the Coalition in a written statement on Saturday September 5.
The Coalition believes the appeal decision cannot be treated as an ordinary matter. They believe it risks public trust in the law and the safety of citizens who dare to challenge those in power.
Therefore, the Coalition rejects the appeal decision because it fails to fulfill the sense of justice and the suffering experienced by the victim, Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) activist Andrie Yunus.
"[We] reject the appeal decision that reduced the prison sentences and overturned the dismissals of the two perpetrators. This decision is disproportionate to the gravity of the attack, the suffering of the victim, and the urgent need for a deterrent effect and guarantees of non-recurrence", said the Coalition.
Furthermore, the Coalition also believes that the problem in this case is not just the reduction of the sentences of the TNI soldiers who committed serious violations.
The decision is also considered to highlight the issue of accountability when military personnel commit serious crimes against civilians.
"The acid attack on Andrie Yunus was no ordinary assault. This was a premeditated attack on a human rights defender, which caused serious injuries, limited the victim's life, and instilled fear in anyone who dared to challenge those in power", said the Coalition.
Based on this, the Coalition is urging the state to uncover the broader responsibility in this case. This includes the chain of command, the motive, planning, the use of resources and the possible involvement of superiors.
"The state is obliged to uncover the chain of command, the motive, planning, the use of resources, and the possible responsibility of superiors. Without comprehensive disclosure, the truth will remain fragmented and accountability will only reach those at the lowest levels", said the Coalition.
Furthermore, the Coalition is urging the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately revise Law Number 31/1997 on Military Justice.
The Coalition requests that the jurisdiction of military justice be limited to military crimes. Meanwhile, general crimes committed by TNI members, especially against civilians, must be tried through general courts.
"Reformasi 1998 has already provided a clear direction: TNI soldiers should be tried in military courts only for military criminal offenses, while general crimes must be tried in general courts", concluded the Coalition.
As reported earlier, an appeal filed by four members of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) in the acid attack on Yunus was accepted by the court.
In the appeal ruling, the panel of judges at the Jakarta High Military Court II-06 overturned the additional penalty of dismissal imposed on Sergeant Edi Sudarko and Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono.
Their prison sentences were also reduced. Sudarko's original sentence of three years was reduced to two years and six months. Meanwhile, Cahyono's sentence was reduced from two years and six months to two years.
The decision is contained in Ruling Number 56-K/PMT-II/BDG/AL/VI/2026, as reported by the Military Court Case Tracking Information System (SIPP).
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Koalisi Sipil Desak MA-KY Periksa Putusan Banding Prajurit TNI Penyiram Air Keras Andrie Yunus".]
