President Jokowi Visits Kanjuruhan Stadium; Takes Issue on Locked Gate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday personally visited East Java’s Kanjuruhan Stadium and inspected the area within the stadium that eventually became the spot that killed hundreds of football fans following the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya on October 1. 

The President came to an initial conclusion on why the tragedy happened. “I see the problem lies in the doors that were locked and that the staircases that were too steep. This is all added with the people panicking,” said the President during his visit to Malang, East Java on October 5. 

He also announced that a dedicated fact-finding team had been formed to investigate the incident that caused the death of 131 football fans. Jokowi also ordered the Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono to conduct an immediate audit on the Kanjuruhan Stadium, as well as other stadiums that are used for the Liga Indonesia. 

The President also visited the surviving victims of the fateful night who are mostly being treated at the Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang City. 

Tragedy ensued after the home team Arema FC lost to Persebaya Surabaya with a final score of 2-3. A number of Arema fans – which were the only fanbase that was permitted to watch the game that night – initially invaded the field following the loss.

Security personnel, comprising police and military members, blocked most of the fans from stuffing the field. However, what followed after the first initial attempt to control the crowd was blamed by many to be the driving force behind the deaths as police released tear gas shots toward the stadium seats. Many who unfortunately did not survive died from being crushed by panicked fellow fans who were fleeing from the thick tear gas smoke. 

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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