A Story From Aremania That May Not Be Known When A Tragedy Thresholds

Arema FC players sow flowers of condolences for the tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium Malang. (Photo: Instagram.com/@aremafcofficial)

JAKARTA - The tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Saturday, October 1, left many sad stories. Many stories may not be revealed before, then the fans who survived.

UJ, one of Aremania who survived the Kanjuruhan Stadium Tragedy, Malang, could not hide the feeling of pain. He also kept a story about the terrible situation that occurred in front of his eyes.

"Alhamdulillah, I was given a safe opportunity to share the facts that I witnessed directly. For the incident on the field at that time, I was sitting on the VIP but I saw clearly what happened because I helped the organizers," said UJ during a virtual press conference with LBH Indonesia, Wednesday, October 5 afternoon.

He then mentioned that the news circulating that caused this incident to become a riot was inappropriate. Because he said this incident was not a clash between the two supporters.

"While yesterday's match between Arema vs Persebaya, we have agreed not to bring in the supporters of the visitors from Surabaya. This is not a riot but an incident of negligence for all of us, especially from the Brimob, which I know they cannot contain themselves," continued UJ.

What UJ means is the use of tear gas in the field, which is clearly stated in the FIFA Statute as prohibited in football matches. In fact, according to him, the SOP from the Panpel has gone well beyond the tools brought by the security forces.

This error occurred, the SOP that was carried out by Panpel as far as I was standardized, but I see that as a supporter's point of view I feel that bringing tear gas alone is not allowed, let alone when it is fired. But the fact is different, in fact, they were fired indiscriminately," he explained.

UJ told of the beginning of the tear gas being fired which then stabbed the situation worse. The atmosphere then became even more tense because the access to exit the stadium turned out to be limited.

When the situation (of chaos) there was a tear gas shot, the first and third were heading north and south of the tire center not towards the stands. But when I saw it from the south, even towards the stands, it was no longer at the tire center," said UJ.

"Meanwhile, when that happened, the audience didn't try to leave because it turned out that the gate 11-14 was closed and there was only one gate (11) that was open with narrow and impossible access," explained UJ.

UJ also recounted the moment when he saw how Aremania got rejected when he was about to evacuate women's supporters. Several times the refusal occurred until finally the victims began to fall and more.

I saw Aremania's colleagues, three Caucasians, one female supporters who fainted towards the ambulance, but when they approached they were rejected by security personnel. He seemed to say 'what were you doing against me', the supporters who wanted to evacuate were also detained by fiber shields," explained UJ.

"Until three evacuations tried to get closer to the ambulance but were also rejected, until finally this Aremania kicked the fiber shield so that it could pass but still not be given."

"The ambulance and Brimob didn't even help, friends didn't even know where to ask for help, they got off at the tire center to find a way out," he said again.

UJ again emphasized that there was a refusal from the security forces to provide access to assistance.

"When I saw that there were five people who died. I knew because the victim was banged and his face was covered with cardboard," said UJ Pilu.