Investigating 7 Days On The Malang Village Tragedy, TPF Civil Society Calls There Are Allegations Of Systematic Crime

Security forces fired tear gas to dispel supporters who entered the field after the BRI Liga 1 soccer match between Arema and Persebaya/ANTARA

SURABAYA - The Civil Society Coalition Fact Finding Team presented 12 initial findings related to the riots and violence at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang Regency, East Java, on October 1, 2022, which resulted in the death of 131 people. "We found that the violent incident that occurred at the Kanjuruhan Stadium was a systematic alleged crime that did not only involve field actors," said a member of the Civil Society Fact Finding Team, Jauhar, in a written statement received in Surabaya, Antara, Sunday, October 9 evening. The Civil Society Coalition Fact Finding Team consists of the Malang Post Legal Aid Institute (LBH), LBH Surabaya, Lokataru, IM 57+ Institute, and Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (ContraS). According to Jauhar, who is also a public lawyer for LBH Surabaya, the Civil Society Coalition Fact Finding Team has conducted an investigation for seven days related to the Kanjuruhan tragedy that occurred after the Liga 1 match between the host Arema FC versus Persebaya Surabaya. During the investigation, his party met with a number of witnesses, the victim and the victim's family with certain conditions of concussion, facial and body bruises, red rashes on the face, to severe trauma due to acts of violence that have occurred. Based on the results of the investigation, continued Jauhar, the team obtained initial findings that the violent incident that occurred at the Kanjuruhan Stadium was an allegation of a systematic crime that did not only involve field actors. In addition, the fact-finding team also suspects that the death toll from the tear gas effect used by the police. The following are 12 findings of the Fact Finding Team for the Civil Society Coalition related to the tragedy of the Village: 1. In the middle of the second half, there was a mobilization of a number of troops carrying tear gas, even though it was known that there were no threats or potential security disturbances at that time. 2. When the match between Arema FC and Persebaya was over, it was discovered that there were a number of supporters who entered the field. Based on the statements of existing witnesses, this happened because the fans only wanted to provide motivation and provide moral support to all players. However, this was overreacted by deploying security forces and then acts of violence. 3. Prior to the act of shooting tear gas, there was no attempt by the authorities to use other powers, such as forces that had a deterrent effect, verbal orders or warning voices to the control of soft empty hands. Whereas based on Perkap Number 1 of 2009 concerning the Use of Power, the police must go through certain stages before taking the stage of shooting tear gas. 4. The acts of violence experienced by supporters are not only carried out by members of the Police, but also by TNI soldiers with various forms, such as dragging, hitting, and kicking. 5. Based on the testimony of the fans, the shooting of tear gas is not only aimed at the field, but also leads to the southern, eastern and northern sides of the stands so that it causes tremendous panic for supporters in the stands. 6. That when they wanted to get out with narrow evacuation access conditions, there was a buildup on a number of locked doors. That in this very limited room, it was exacerbated by the massive shooting of tear gas by the police and this had a very fatal impact that resulted in the victims having difficulty breathing and causing fatalities. 7. After experiencing a series of violent events, the supporters who came out in jostling conditions, minimal assistance from the police, the victims in their own way tried to get out. 8. Incidents of violence and suffering did not only occur inside the stadium, but also outside the stadium. It is known that the police also shot tear gas at supporters outside the stadium. 9. Pascaperistiwa, it is known that certain parties have carried out acts of intimidation, either through means of communication or directly. His party suspected that this was done to cause a fear for witnesses and victims not to give a testimony. 10. Until now, there is no detailed information from the government regarding data on casualties and injuries that can be accessed by the public, including information on the progress of handling cases that are currently being handled by the police. 11. While the team was investigating the facts, his party had communicated with Komnas HAM and LPSK, then submitted a number of reports. But the team has not seen the real work of the Independent Joint Team for Fact Findings to meet a number of witnesses and victims. 12. Regarding the narrative of the findings of alcohol beverages and the use of terminology "conferring" is a provision of misleading information. In this incident, it is considered wrong to use the terminology of riots, what happens is an attack or systematic murder of civilians. Based on the initial findings above, the team assessed that there had been an act of violence committed intentionally and systematically, carried out by the security forces, by not only involving field actors, who have now been named suspects by the police. However, there are other actors with higher positions who should be responsible and need further legal processing.