TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The joint independent fact-finding team or TGIPF for the Kanjuruhan tragedy reported their investigation results to President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Friday afternoon, October 14, 2022, at 13.30 Jakarta time at the Presidential Palace.

The team led by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md concluded that tear gas was the main cause of mass deaths in the tragic incident.

"People who died and suffered disabilities, and are now in critical condition are confirmed to be due to stampede after tear gas was fired, which is the cause," said Mahfud at a press conference at the Palace, Friday, October 14, 2022.

The use of expired tear gas had also been admitted by the police. Mahfud said the dangerous and toxic levels of the gas are now being examined by the National Research and Innovation Agency or BRIN.

"But whatever the results of the BRIN examination cannot turn down the conclusion that the mass deaths are mainly caused by tear gas," Mahfud remarked.

The football tragedy killed 132 people after the football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya on October 1, 2022. Jokowi thus immediately established the TGIPF to investigate the whole incident.

Mahfud Md also said footage of the mass death in the Kanjuruhan stadium was far more horrific than what was circulating on television and social media because the team had reconstructed 32 CCTV owned by the authorities.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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