Sanctions for Those Who are Guilty

The Kanjuruhan tragedy in Malang must be investigated and followed by sanctions. The government has also formed an independent joint fact-finding team.

KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI

Arema FC management gave a statement to the media regarding the Kanjuruhan tragedy, Monday (03/10/2022). Present at the meeting, Arema FC President Gilang Widya Pramana (right) and Arema Media Officer Sudarmaji (left)

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated that the Kanjuruhan tragedy in Malang, East Java, was thoroughly investigated. Not only that, sanctions must also be given to those who are considered guilty.

"I think my orders are clear to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, to the National Police Chief, to the Youth and Sports Minister (Menpora) -- everything is clear. Completely investigated. Sanctions will be given to those who are guilty," President Jokowi told reporters in Batang regency, Central Java, on Monday (3/10/2022).

The riots that led to the dispersal of the masses using tear gas by officers at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, on Saturday (1/10), resulted in 125 deaths. This tragedy occurred after the Indonesian League 1 match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.

Previously, on Sunday (2/10), the President also asked that there be a thorough evaluation of the implementation of football matches and the security procedures for their implementation. Last Monday, the government formed an independent joint fact-finding team to clearly and thoroughly reveal the causes of the football tragedy. The team is made up of 10 people, consisting of officials from ministries/agencies, professional football organizations, observers, academics and mass-media practitioners.

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This team, said Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, who is also the team leader, is expected to complete the task within 1-2 weeks. The team started duty this Tuesday. Police, according to Mahfud, were asked to evaluate the implementation of local security. So was the Indonesian Military (TNI). Because, in the videos that circulated, it was seen that TNI members were carrying out excessive actions outside their authority.

TNI Commander Gen. Andika Perkasa said TNI Headquarters had investigated the actions of TNI members as shown in the videos. According to Andika, this is beyond the authority of TNI members. Mahfud said that the President would provide compensation to the victims or families of the victims of the Kanjuruhan tragedy in the amount of Rp 50 million (US$3,268) for each victim. The Social Affairs Ministry also provided compensation to the victim's family of Rp 15 million and a package of basic necessities to 125 heirs.

Local resort police chief removed

The National Police Chief Gen. (Pol) Listyo Sigit Prabowo has deactivated the Malang Resort Police Chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Ferli Hidayat, in the aftermath of the Kanjuruhan tragedy. Nine members of the East Java Police Mobile Brigade were also deactivated. This was conveyed by the head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Insp. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo, on Wednesday evening at the Malang Police Headquarters.

According to Dedi, the team conducted an examination related to Article 359 (negligence that causes another person to die) and 360 of the Criminal Code by examining 20 witnesses.

In addition, the results of the examination of the Special Inspectorate and Internal Security, as many as 28 members of the National Police were also examined for alleged violations of the code of ethics. It is possible that their number will increase.

Nine members of the East Java Police Mobile Brigade were deactivated.

The Inafis Team and the Forensic Laboratory also examined and explored a number of equipment and supplies, especially surveillance cameras (CCTV) from 31 locations at the Kanjuruhan Stadium and outside the stadium complex. Officers also analyzed six of the victim's cell phones, three of which were successfully unlocked.

In addition to examining personnel, the team also examined four witnesses. They are the director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru, the chairman of the East Java Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), the chairman of the organizing committee from Arema and the head of the East Java Youth and Sports Office.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Arema FC players and officials in the middle of the field at the Kanjuruhan Stadium to pay respects to the victims who died during the riots, Malang Regency, East Java, Monday (3/10/2022).

Meanwhile, PSSI targeted that the investigation into the Kanjuruhan tragedy be completed as soon as possible. Domestic international football matches, namely the U-17 Asian Cup qualification at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor, can go ahead as scheduled. This was disclosed by general chairperson of PSSI, Mochamad Iriawan, at the Malang Police, on Monday.

Iriawan said the focus of the investigation was on the condition of the stadium doors. It remains to be seen whether the door was working or not before the responsible party opened and closed it. The ticketing mechanism will also be looked into.

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Timmy Setiawan, security officer of FIFA 2007-2011, said that in relation to safety, the majority of stadiums in Indonesia have not been equipped with single seats, clear evacuation routes, location maps and automatic doors that open when the match ends or in an emergency.

Timmy said that the security guards that evening looked negligent. They had disbanded before the game ended. “I think the officers are too confident. They predict the opposing fans will not come, and many times there has been no problem there. Maybe that's what makes them less disciplined," he said.

Event details

A number of eyewitnesses gave details of the tragic event. Fongki Rahadi (43), an Aremania fan from Sudimoro, Blimbing, said that after the match, several Aremania fans entered the field to convey their complaints to the management and Arema players.

"Attempts to approach the management and the Arema players were given the wrong response by security officers," said Fongki. The officers' repressive actions even triggered more Aremania fans to enter the field.

At that time, the south stands were bombarded with tear gas several times, maybe four times. What was worse was the fact that the doors near them could not be opened.

The firing of tear gas at the stands, according to Fongki, should also be evaluated. Because, instead of making the mass calm, it triggered great panic. However, Pongki admitted Aremania fans were guilty for entering the field. Muhammad Ludfi Ardiansyah (40), an Aremania fan from Jalan Kiai Tamin, said that at that time, the officers fired tear gas for the first time in the stands behind the scoreboard (door 87). However, the next shot was directed at the southern stands (12-14).

“At that time, the south stands were bombarded with tear gas several times, maybe four times. What was worse was the fact that the doors near them could not be opened," said Ludfi. (INA/NAD/SKA/DRI/NIT/WER/DIA/BRO/FLO)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.