Editorial
The acid attack against Andrie Yunus is now at risk of becoming another case of justice eluded, proving yet again that the public has nothing to expect from the justice system.
Four Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel found guilty of throwing acid at human rights activist Andrie Yunus leave after their verdict hearing on June 10 at the Jakarta Military Court. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Rights defender Andrie Yunus repeatedly asked for the trial against soldiers involved in the March acid attack that left him blind in one eye to be held in a civilian court, not a military tribunal, for fear of impunity.Three months later, on June 10, the Jakarta Military Court sentenced the four soldiers to between 8 months and three years, in what rights groups describe as light sentences and a trial designed to hide the full truth in the premeditated attack against Andrie.
The fact that a pretrial ruling from a district court has ordered the case be investigated by the police briefly gave hope that his attackers would be tried at a civilian court to ensure accountability and uncover the full chain of command. But the military court pressed ahead.
