Jakarta (ANTARA) - An Indonesian military reshuffle shows the armed forces will not tolerate wrongdoing within its ranks, a political and military analyst said, after an intelligence unit member was linked to an acid attack on a rights activist.

The change followed the alleged involvement of a Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais) officer in the acid attack against the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) activist Andrie Yunus.

“The military is trying to send a message that it does not tolerate violations, even when they involve strategic units,” Selamat Ginting of the National University said on Friday.

According to Selamat, the acid attack has triggered strong emotional reactions across Indonesian society.

Public pressure has pushed the government, particularly President Prabowo Subianto, to respond and instruct the military headquarters to fully investigate the case.

The president’s direct order is certain to drive the armed forces to pursue the investigation more seriously, he added.

At the same time, doubts have emerged over the transparency of the probe, as legal proceedings within the military follow distinct mechanisms from civilian courts.

Selamat said the military must ensure openness to uphold justice in the ongoing legal process.

“If it is not handled swiftly and transparently, this case could escalate into a broader crisis of trust in the military,” he said.

He added that replacing the intelligence chief could also help counter perceptions that the military protects its own personnel from legal consequences.

“This step can also be seen as a preemptive move to prevent politicization. In a democratic climate, any case involving armed personnel risks being drawn into the political arena,” Selamat said, urging authorities to pursue the investigation until those responsible for the attack are fully identified.

Separately, Indonesia’s Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) said the recovery of Andrie Yunus could take up to two years due to the severity of his injuries.

Commissioner Saurlin P. Siagian said medical findings classified the injuries as burns caused by a strong corrosive substance.

“Operations are ongoing and could continue for six months to two years,” he said. The first six months will be critical in determining the trajectory of recovery, he added.

Another commissioner, Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi, said treatment had been intensive, but conditions affecting the victim’s right eye remain under assessment. “They cannot yet conclude whether there is deterioration or improvement; it is still under evaluation,” he said.

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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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