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32 children died in Indonesia stadium disaster


Indonesia football stadium stampede

People walk among the rubble in the stands at Kanjuruhan Stadium a few days after a deadly stampede following a football match in Malang, East Java on October 3, 2022. – Anger against the police in Indonesia on October 3 after at least 125 people were killed in one of the deadliest disasters in football history, when officers fired tear gas in a packed stadium, triggering a stampede. bicycle. (Photo by Juni Kriswanto / AFP)

At least 32 children have died in Indonesia’s stadium collapse, an official said on Monday as police carried out punishments for those responsible for one of the deadliest disasters in football history.

Tragedy On Saturday night in the city of Malang, a total of 125 people were killed and 323 others injured after police fired tear gas in a packed stadium to quell a turf invasion, triggering an explosion. step foot on something.

An official from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection told AFP.

“From the latest data we got, of the 125 people who died in the crash, 32 of them were children, with the youngest being a toddler three or four years old,” said Nahar, who also as many Indonesians know only one name indicates.

As police anger mounted, Indonesian Security Minister Mahfud MD announced a task force had been set up to investigate and called for those responsible to be punished.

“We have asked (police) to disclose who committed the crime and took action against them and we also expect the national police to review their security procedures,” he said in a statement. a broadcast statement.

The police force fired their local head in Malang within hours of the minister’s speech.

“Tonight the national police chief has taken the decision to remove Malang police chief Ferli Hidayat from duty and replace him,” national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told a news conference.

East Java police also suspended nine officers at the behest of the national police force, he said, without providing details of their role in the tragedy.

‘We want accountability’

Saturday’s incident came as fans of the home team Arema FC stormed the Kanjuruhan Stadium after a 3-2 loss to nasty rivals Persebaya Surabaya.

According to eyewitnesses, police responded by launching tear gas into packed terraces, sending spectators rushing to small gates where many were trampled or suffocated.

29-year-old spectator Ahmad Rizal Habibi, who escaped before being crushed, said: “It felt like people were stuffed into a small tube with a small hole, and then they were smoked.

Police described the incident as a riot and said two officers were killed, but survivors accused them of overreacting and causing the deaths of many spectators.

“One of our messages is to expect the authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter. And we want accountability. Who is to blame? ” Andika, 25, a resident of Malang, declined to give her last name.

“We want justice for our fallen supporters.”

A witness outside the stadium said police refused to help when the fight broke out.

“This place looks like a mass cemetery. Women and children piled on top of each other,” Eko Prianto, 39, told AFP.

“I ran to the police or soldiers to help. There is no medical in sight. The police did not help and the soldier threatened to beat me.”

‘Fully responsible’

In a tearful live speech, Arema FC president Gilang Widya Pramana apologized for the tragedy.

He said: “I, as the president of Arema FC, will take full responsibility for the incident that has occurred.

Team Arema visited the lover’s site on Monday, wearing black to pay their respects and placing flowers before gathering on the field to pray for the victims.

The Kompas newspaper published a black front page with the word “tragedy” and a stadium named after the victims.

Graffiti covered the walls of the site showing boiling anger towards the authorities.

“My brothers and sisters were killed. Please investigate thoroughly,” a notice was scrawled on the stadium’s shutters, with a black ribbon and the date of the disaster.

“ACAB,” an acronym for “all cops are assholes,” was strewn across another wall.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered compensation to the victims’ families at 50 million rupiah ($3,200) each, a minister said on Monday.

He has also suspended football matches until security is improved and an investigation is announced.

Human rights groups say officers should be held accountable for the use of tear gas in a restricted area.

Mahfud said the task force for the investigation will include football and government officials, academics and members of the media.

He said the poll would be “closed in the next two or three weeks”.

But Human Rights Watch said the police and the Indonesian football association “could be tempted to downplay or downplay full responsibility to officials”.

‘A dark day’

Football fan violence is a burning problem in Indonesia.

Witnesses said supporters of the home team flooded the field after the loss to Persebaya Surabaya.

Persebaya Surabaya fans were banned from the match due to fear of violence.

Mahfud said 42,000 tickets have been allocated to 38,000 seats.

Following the stampede, Arema fans threw rocks at officers and set fire to vehicles including a police truck on the streets of Malang, according to police.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the tragedy a “dark day” for football.

World governing body safety guidelines prohibit the use of crowd control gas by police or regulators on the sidelines.

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