PPI UK Condemns Attack on KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus

LONDON – The Indonesian Student Association in the United Kingdom (PPI UK) has strongly condemned the attack on Andrie Yunus, an activist from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). This incident is considered a form of serious violence that requires urgent attention from the state and law enforcement agencies.

The Dark Legacy of Activist Repression in Indonesia

In its statement, PPI UK highlighted the recurring contradiction in Indonesia's history—between the spirit of freedom of expression and concerning repressive practices. A string of dark events from the past to the present serves as concrete evidence that safe spaces for critical voices are increasingly narrowing.

• The 1998 Tragedy: The enforced disappearance of activists without a trace, which remains a historical wound.

• The Munir Case (2004): The death of a vocal human rights activist whose masterminds have yet to be fully revealed.

• Recent Cases (2025–2026): The death of Vian Ruma (2025), the case of Ermanto Usman (March 2026), and the acid attack on Andrie Yunus.

"If we look at this series of events, a similar pattern emerges: the use of intimidation, terror, and violence to silence critical voices," the official PPI UK statement reads.

Constitutional and Human Rights Violations

Repressive actions against activists are not ordinary crimes, but a direct threat to Indonesian democracy. Freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed under Article 28E paragraph (3) and 28F of the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

PPI UK emphasized that when citizens face threats and even death while exercising their rights, a fundamental question arises regarding the meaning of independence if public voices are still silenced by fear.

PPI UK Statement and Demands

Responding to this emergency situation, PPI UK released three main points as a form of solidarity and demands addressed to the government:

1. Condemning Intimidation: PPI UK condemns all forms of repressive action aimed at restricting the public from exercising the right to freedom of expression as a fundamental principle of democracy.

2. Urging Transparent Law Enforcement: Demanding that Indonesian law enforcement authorities conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the case of Andrie Yunus. All responsible parties must be processed fairly without exception.

3. Call for Civil Society Solidarity: Inviting all elements of civil society to oversee this legal process in order to safeguard justice and democracy in Indonesia.

"Freedom of expression is an activity guaranteed by the constitution since this nation was founded. We invite the public not to let this action pass by unnoticed," the statement concluded.