Tear Gas Stirs Panic Leading to Kanjuruhan Tragedy, Komnas HAM Says
Translator
Editor
6 October 2022 10:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The investigation team of the National Commission on Human Rights or Komnas HAM assessed that the use of tear gas was the initial cause of the deadly stampede in Kanjuruhan Stadium after the football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday night, October 1, 2022.
The team as of Wednesday, October 5, found that tear gas fired by the police stirred panic which led to a crowd crush, Komnas HAM Commissioner Choirul Anam has reported. While in fact, the situation was still relatively under control a few minutes after the spectators invaded the pitch.
“So it was tear gas that caused panic,” said Anam in Malang, East Java, Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
The panic turned into a tragedy after Aremania, supporters of Arema FC, could not leave the overcrowded stadium because the doors were locked. They were trampled and run out of oxygen, which was clearly seen from their dead bodies.
“[They died] most likely due to lack of oxygen or exposure to tear gas,” said Anam.
Komnas HAM then questioned the security procedures and plans prior, during, and after the football match. As the police teargassed spectators, he emphasized that the crowd control gas should be thus included in the security plans designed by the organizing committee and the police.
The world football’s governing body FIFA specifies in its stadium safety and security regulations that no firearms or "crowd control gas" should be carried or used by stewards or police.
Based on data from the Malang District Health Office, the Kanjuruhan tragic incident killed at least 131 people and cause 440 people to sustain minor injuries and 29 people to be seriously injured.
FEBRIYAN
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News