JAKARTA | Thirty-two children are among the 125 dead in the deadly stampede that took place this weekend in a stadium in Indonesia, authorities said on Monday, who announced the first sanctions after this tragedy, one of the worst in the history of the soccer.
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The deadly crowd movement also injured more than 300 people, some of whom are between life and death in hospitals in the city of Malang, in the east of the island of Java.
“According to the latest data we have, out of 125 people who have died, 32 are children, the youngest of whom is two or three years old,” Nahar, an official with the Ministry of Women and Protection, told AFP. from childhood.
In the face of public anger, the first sanctions fell on Monday with the dismissal of Malang city police chief Ferli Hidayat and the suspension of nine police officers, according to national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo.
The minister responsible for security, Mahfud MD, had earlier called on the Indonesian police to “identify” the people who “perpetrated the crimes”, and to crack down.
Saturday night’s drama at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang took place when fans of local side Arema FC entered the pitch after their side lost 3-2 to neighboring Persebaya Surabaya.
Police responded by firing volleys of tear gas into the crowded stands of the stadium, full with 42,000 spectators present, authorities said.
Onlookers then rushed en masse to narrow doorways where many were trampled on and choked, witnesses said.
Police, two of whose officers were killed in the tragedy, described the incident as a “riot”. But the survivors accuse him of having overreacted and caused the death of more than a hundred spectators, including dozens of children.
“Some need to be accountable. Who should be sentenced?” said Andika, who declined to give his last name. “We demand justice for our missing supporters,” the 25-year-old Malang football fan asked.
“Great Cemetery”
A witness assured that the police refused to intervene at the time of the fatal crowd movement.
“The place looked like a big cemetery. Women and children were piled on top of each other,” Eko Prianto, 39, told AFP.
“I rushed to the police and soldiers to help. There was no rescuer in sight. The police did not help and a soldier threatened to beat me”.
National police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said investigators were analyzing CCTV footage from the stadium to identify “suspects who carried out destruction”.
They also questioned 28 police officers, in particular about the use of tear gas canisters on the site.
On television, the president of the Malang football club apologized in tears on Monday.
“As president of the Arema FC club, I take full responsibility for the incidents that have occurred. I offer my deepest apologies to the victims, their families, the Indonesians and the Liga 1”, the local first division, said Gilang Widya Pramana.
His team visited the site of the tragedy on Monday dressed in black T-shirts to pay their respects to the victims and lay flowers, before gathering on the ground for prayers.
Independent investigation requested
Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced on Sunday the opening of an investigation. Monday he promised the payment of compensation to the families of victims of 50 million rupees (3,200 dollars).
But several human rights groups have demanded an independent investigation and an explanation from the police over the use of tear gas in a confined space.
“We call on the authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough and independent investigation into the use of tear gas inside the stadium, and to ensure that those who committed these offenses are brought to public trial,” Amnesty International said in a statement. communicated.
“These losses of human life cannot go unanswered,” added the NGO.
Human Rights Watch called on the International Football Federation (FIFA) to conduct its own investigation and make it public.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the tragedy “a tragedy beyond imagining”.
Minister Mahfud MD said members of the inquiry committee would be selected from among government officials, analysts, football officials, media and academics, among others.
The authorities will announce the results of the investigation as soon as possible, he said, estimating that “the mission could be concluded in the next two or three weeks”.
– Anger – Criticism of the authorities flared online and from witnesses.
“Fans died in the arms of the players,” Javier Roca, the Chilean coach of Indonesian club Arema, told Spanish radio Cadena Ser on Sunday, saying that “the police went too far”.
Fan violence has been a long-standing problem in Indonesia, where club rivalries have often resulted in deadly clashes.
For the game on Saturday, Persebaya Surabaya fans were not allowed to buy tickets for fear of incidents.