Following the acid attack on Andrie Yunus on 12 March 2026, a series of investigations were conducted by various parties, including the police and civil society coalitions. Police identified four perpetrators, linking the attack to the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS TNI), but did not disclose the identities of those involved. The TNI conducted its own investigation, with differing suspect details, sparking public concern over transparency. Investigative reports by Tempo suggested the attack was part of a planned intelligence operation, “Operasi Sadang,” orchestrated by BAIS TNI.
On 31 March 2026, the case was transferred to the TNI Military Police, increasing the likelihood of a military court trial. Andrie Yunus and civil society groups, including KontraS, pushed for the case to be handled in a civilian court to ensure transparency. Despite these calls, on 7 April 2026, the TNI Military Police concluded their investigation and decided the case would be tried in a military court, signaling a lack of commitment from the authorities to resolve the matter openly.
The case was compounded by two more acid attacks: one on union leader Tri Wibowo in Bekasi and another on environmental activist Muhammad Rosidi in Bangka Belitung. These incidents have created a chilling effect, discouraging public dissent and raising concerns about the erosion of freedom of expression and the rule of law. Analysts warn that the opaque handling of the cases, combined with increasing militarization and restrictive policies, could further undermine democratic principles, judicial independence, and civil society freedoms.