Stadium Not Street Places Of Demonstration, Eye Gas In The End Of Tragedy

Security forces fired tear gas to dispel supporters who entered the field after the League 1 match between Arema and Persebaya at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - tear gas is considered by a number of people in Indonesia as a trigger for more than a hundred Arema FC supporters to die after chaos at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Kepanjen, Malang Regency, after the Arema match against Persebaya on October 1, which Persebaya won 3-2.

This incident is still being investigated by the Indonesian authorities, while PSSI and PT Liga Indonesia Baru immediately suspended the Indonesian League 1 competition and forbade Arema FC to play at home until the 2022-2023 season is over.

President Joko Widodo also ordered that so many incidents that claimed victims, including children and teenagers, were thoroughly investigated.

Finding the cause of this incident is also a very important part, and one of the factors that cannot be ruled out is the use of tear gas.

tear gas itself is commonly used in controlling the changing mass of anarchists anywhere in the world.

However, according to a number of circles, one of which is the non-profit organization to protect human rights Physicians for Human Rights, the use of tear gas must be measurable because "chemical irritation physical symptoms (due to tear gas) often result in disorientation that triggers a state of fear, anxiety, and panic."

Panic attacks can run at the same time as physical pain due to tear gas.

It is everyone's instinct to get away from tear gas exposure as quickly as possible, especially if it happens at night in a limited space such as a football stadium.

Unlike during demonstrations on the streets where people easily find a place not exposed to tear gas, this is not the case if in places such as football stadiums, especially those who panic thousands.

tear gas is normal and legal to control the masses, but it still has to be measured, especially facing a mass that is on average very young who is easily provoked by its emotions.

A number of experts assessed that because of the risks including injuries, there was almost no situation that confirmed the use of tear gas in controlling the crowd.

"One thing is certain that tear gas causes panic and chaos. Mass death due to being trampled can occur after tear gas is used," said Ashley Parks of Bull City Psychotherapy, quoted by Antara, Monday.

In 2015 the police fired tear gas at a football stadium in Egypt to bring order to the crowd who were causing trouble.

Twenty-five people died from weakness or being trampled on due to panic avoiding exposure to tear gas.

When panicked, everyone left the stadium. The exit turned like a bottle neck which later became the death door because people became short of breath, even stepped on by others.

Meanwhile, the tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang Regency occurred after the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya with a final score of 2-3. The incident is still under investigation by the police and related parties.