Amnesty International: East Java Police Chief Must Be Responsible for Malang Kanjuruhan Tragedy, Worth Removing

The atmosphere of the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java, on Sunday (2/10/2022). (ANTARA/Abdul Malik Ibrahim).

JAKARTA - Amnesty International Indonesia considers the East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta to be responsible for the deadly tragedy that killed 125 people at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java. Nico Afinta is said to be worthy of being removed.

Amnesty International's Executive Director, Usman Hamid said one of the reasons was because he held the highest security element in the region including ensuring the safety of the community.

"The East Java Regional Police Chief deserves to be held accountable, including being removed if he fails or does not take appropriate and necessary action to prevent this incident, or does not take immediate action against his members who caused many deaths", said Usman Hamid in his statement, Tuesday, October 4.

In addition, behind the deadly tragedy, Usman strongly suspects that there are elements of human rights violations. This is because the security guards continued to fire tear gas.

The National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo was also asked to take responsibility. Because, as the highest leader in the Bhayangkara Corps, they must continue to monitor and check the performance of their members in the field.

"Even the National Police Chief must be held responsible for the many police problems, especially the low performance of the Police", said Usman.

According to him, if the security forces carried out security according to procedures, then hundreds of people could not become victims. On this basis, all parties involved must be held accountable.

"All parties responsible for the incident, including the chairman of PSSI, should resign. Because this is a national tragedy and even a world tragedy", said Usman.

For information, based on police data, the number of temporary victims behind the tragedy reached 455 people.

That number consists of 125 people declared dead. Then, 21 suffered serious injuries and 304 minor injuries.

Then, in this tragedy at least 10 members of the National Police were removed. One of them is AKBP Firli who was previously the Malang Police Chief.

Then, 9 members of the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) tasked with securing the match, which was only filled with home fans without visiting supporters, were also removed.

They included AKBP Agus Waluyo, AKP Khas Darman, Aiptu Solikin, Aiptu M. Syamsul, Aiptu Ari Dwiyanto. Then, AKP Untung, AKP Danang, AKP Nanang, and Aiptu Budi.

The removed Brimob members were commanders at their level. Ranging from Platoon Commander to Battalion Commander.