Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has revealed a number of irregularities that have not been resolved publicly 33 days since the attempted murder of its deputy coordinator Andrie Yunus.
Kontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya stated that the legal process taking place internally within the military is not in accordance with the commitment and promises initially made by the Indonesian Military (TNI) to resolve the case in an accountable and transparent manner.
In fact, the TNI has not released the faces or identities of the four perpetrators named as suspects for their involvement in the acid attack on Yunus.
The inquiry and criminal investigation process within the TNI that is being conducted by the Military Police Centre (Puspom), said Arya, has also not elaborated on the findings and facts conveyed by the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), Yunus' legal counsel.
The findings show the involvement of 16 perpetrators who were seen conducting surveillance, communicating and coordinating on the ground prior to the incident, as well as the alleged operation and structural command that has not been revealed, indicate a lack of transparency and accountability in law enforcement against the perpetrators of the acid attack.
Arya then touched on the issue of the transfer of positions of the head, deputy head and director of Directorate E at the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), which have also raised big questions.
"Command accountability within the BAIS structure does not stop at ethical accountability, but also includes criminal sanctions as a head or superior who is aware of and responsible (command responsibility) for the behaviour and actions of soldiers under their command", Arya said in a written statement on Thursday April 16.
Kontras also highlighted a number of acts of violence in the form of terror and intimidation against those expressing solidarity with Yunus following the acid attack.
This further strengthens Kontras' thesis that the cycle of violence and impunity will not end if there is no just, transparent, accountable legal mechanism that provides a deterrent effect for the perpetrators and institutions involved.
Furthermore, Kontras also highlighted the arbitrary blocking by the Communication and Digital Ministry (Komdigi) of publications and solidarity campaigns for Yunus on social media platforms.
According to Arya, this contradicts freedom of expression and freedom of the press, which are the foundations of democracy.
In addition to this, Kontras highlighted the stance of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III, which has not pushed the government to form an independent joint fact-finding commission/team (TGPF) in order to ensure the collection of facts and evidence can be done quickly, effectively, transparently and accountably without any conflict of interest.
Yet, DPR members should act as conveyors of the people's aspirations.
"Because of the series of problems above, we urge all parties to carry out their duties and functions transparently, accountably, and with full integrity, upholding the values and principles of democracy, human rights and legal supremacy for the sake of a just resolution", said Arya.
Andrie Yunus was doused with acid in the second week of March after giving a podcast at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) offices titled "Remilitarisation & Judicial Review of the TNI Law".
Today, Thursday April 16, the Jakarta II-07 Military Audit Office (Oditur) will submit the case files and the suspects in the acid attack on Yunus to a military court.
The Audit Office will apply multiple articles concerning assault, but not attempted premeditated murder, against the four perpetrators in the case. (ryn/wis)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "33 Hari Serangan Air Keras Andrie, KontraS Ungkap Banyak Kejanggalan".]
