One year on from stadium disaster that killed 135, these families are still seeking answers

One year on from stadium disaster that killed 135, these families are still seeking answers
One 12 months on from the Kanjuruhan soccer stadium catastrophe that killed greater than 130 individuals in Indonesia, households of the victims are calling on authorities to reopen investigations and declare the incident “a serious human rights violation”.

Video footage aired by CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia confirmed emotional scenes as households gathered on the National Police Headquarters within the capital Jakarta on Wednesday to demand justice.

Families, lots of whom had traveled to Jakarta from Malang Regency the place the tragedy came about, wore black T-shirts with the message “Never Forget, 1 October, 2022”, and carried pictures of deceased family members.

Police officers fireplace tear fuel throughout a soccer match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Clashes between supporters of two Indonesian soccer groups in East Java province killed over 100 followers and a variety of law enforcement officials, principally trampled to loss of life, police mentioned Sunday. (AP Photo/Yudha Prabowo) (AP)

Some 135 individuals had been killed and a whole lot extra had been injured in a crush as crowds rushed for the exits following a conflict between followers and police that noticed safety forces fireplace tear fuel throughout the stadium. Investigations by government-sanctioned fact-finding groups concluded the crush was primarily brought on by police capturing tear fuel at spectators.

But till now, solely 5 individuals – three law enforcement officials and two organisers – have been placed on trial. Families have criticised their jail sentences – of between one and two years – as being too gentle.

“(Our) hope is for justice … harsh as possible punishment for the 135 lives lost,” mentioned one girl demonstrating outdoors the police HQ who misplaced her daughter within the deadly crush.

Similar gatherings came about on Monday, when dozens visited the workplaces of Komnas HAM, a state human rights establishment.

“The Kanjuruhan tragedy was a gross human rights violation,” mentioned Imam Hidayat, a spokesperson for the Kanjuruhan Tragedy Advocacy Team, who referred to as on the Attorney General’s Office to type an unbiased staff to analyze the tragedy.

“There is a conflict of interest if the investigation is done by police,” he mentioned.

Also among the many demonstrators was a person named Daniel, whose daughter Elvi Duali died on the stadium. “It isn’t fair,” Daniel mentioned. “Even after a year, we (the victims’ families) still have not received justice.”

Soccer followers coming into the pitch through the conflict. (Associated Press)

Located in East Java, the Kanjuruhan Stadium was used principally for soccer matches, with a supposed capability of 38,000 spectators.

But there have been round 42,000 tickets bought for the sport on October 1, 2022, when one of many worst disasters within the sport’s historical past unfolded.

A conflict between a variety of Arema FC followers and police prompted safety forces to fireside tear fuel into enclosed areas of the stadium. Panicked followers then tried to flee the choking smoke, triggering a crush on the exits.

Many of these killed had been trampled to loss of life or died from asphyxiation and different respiration issues, officers mentioned.

Among the lifeless had been 33 kids, together with one as younger as 3.

Survivor accounts emerged alleging extreme pressure by armed riot law enforcement officials kicking and beating individuals on the scene.

President Joko Widodo has mentioned the stadium could be demolished and rebuilt. But one 12 months on and the constructing nonetheless stands, largely deserted, with graffiti and posters condemning the tragedy.

Rights teams advised CNN that “a year had pass but nothing had changed since the tragedy.”

“The ongoing legal process still does not fulfil a sense of justice for victims or their families,” mentioned Usman Hamid, govt director of Amnesty International Indonesia.

Source: www.9news.com.au