Mon 03 October 2022:
In one of the deadliest football disasters in history, at least 32 children died in Indonesia’s stadium crush, an official said on Monday as police moved to punish those to blame.
In the tragic incident that occurred on Saturday night in Malang, police used tear gas to disperse a stampede in a packed stadium, resulting in 125 fatalities and 323 injuries.
Mahfud MD, Indonesia’s chief security minister, announced the creation of a task force to conduct an investigation as resentment toward police grew and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
“We asked (police) to unveil who has perpetrated the crimes and take action against them and we also hope the national police will evaluate their security procedures,” he said in a broadcast statement.
The police force sacked its local chief in Malang within hours of the minister’s speech.
East Java police also suspended nine officers on the instruction of the national police force, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told a press conference, without providing details about their role in the tragedy.
Police responded by launching tear gas into packed terraces, prompting spectators to rush en masse to small gates where many were trampled or suffocated, according to witnesses.
“It felt like people were packed into a small tube with a tiny hole, and then they were smoked,” said 29-year-old spectator Ahmad Rizal Habibi, who escaped before the crush.
Police described the incident as a riot and said two officers were killed, but survivors accuse them of overreacting and causing the deaths of scores of spectators.
“One of our messages is for the authorities to investigate this thoroughly. And we want accountability. Who is to blame?” said 25-year-old Malang resident Andika, who declined to give his last name.
According to a minister on Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered $3,200 in compensation for each victim’s family in the amount of 50 million rupiah.
In addition, he announced an investigation and suspended football games until security was better.
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, referred to the tragedy as a “dark day” for soccer.
The use of crowd control gas at pitchside is prohibited by the safety regulations set forth by the world governing body.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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