LBH Yogyakarta terrorised by Molotov cocktail attack

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) office. LBH Yogyakarta Director Yogi Zul Fadhli in a press release confirmed that the attack occurred late at night between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Saturday (18 September). 

"We found burn marks located at the west corner of LBH Yogyakarta office terrace," said Yogi. The burn marks spread from the floor, walls, window panes and ventilation to the roof.

Yogi suspects that the attack is related to LBH Yogyakarta’s advocacy works in structural cases and cases of inequality experienced by the poor, considering the fact that LBH Yogyakarta is intensively handling such cases. 

According to Kumparan, these cases include the lawsuit of a lecturer at Proklamasi University 45; eviction of farmers in Wadas, Purworejo; the prohibition of demonstrations in Malioboro area; power plant construction in Cilacap and cement factory construction in Gombong.

"This action is a crime that violates the Criminal Code. Therefore, we will report this incident to the authorities, namely the police and related institutions," Yogi said.

As stated by Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid in a video last Sunday (19 September), Amnesty International Indonesia urges security forces to immediately investigate this incident and find the perpetrators behind it. He emphasised that the state must ensure that every legal aid worker can carry out his/her work free from any kind of threats. 

Police investigation is still underway. Yogyakarta City Police Chief Sr. Comr. Purwadi Wahyu Anggoro said the police are trying their best to uncover the incident. However, he mentioned that despite the maximum efforts, they do not have sufficient evidence. 

“We have called 3 or 4 witnesses, 2 from LBH and a food street seller near the area,” he added. Two CCTVs are installed in the office, but both are broken and have not been operational since last year. 

“We are not afraid of terror at all. This incident actually motivates us to move forward and never stop defending," Yogi said in his statement.