Financial compensation for the families of the "Indonesia Stadium" victims... and the dismissal of the Malang police chief
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday ordered compensation of up to $3,200 to each of the families of victims of a stampede at a soccer stadium in Malang on Saturday that killed 125 people.
The fans of the "Arima FC" team, who went to the stadium after losing to "Persibaya Surabaya" 2-3 in the Indonesian league, to the field, caused a stampede that killed at least 125 people and injured 323.
The stadium, which accommodates 42,000 spectators, was full, according to the authorities. About 3,000 of them stormed the stadium after the match.
The police, who described the incident as a "riot", tried to persuade the fans to return to the stands and fired tear gas at them after two officers were killed, causing a stampede and collisions between fans and running over many victims.
Today, Monday, the Indonesian president ordered 50 million rupiah ($3,200) in compensation to each of the families of the victims of the stampede, and announced an investigation, but rights groups indicated the need to hold the police accountable for their use of tear gas in a confined space.
As anger against the police mounted, Indonesia's security minister, Muhammad Mahfouz, announced the formation of an investigation team.
"We ask the National Police to find the perpetrators of the crimes in the coming days," Mohamed Mahfouz said in a television statement, calling for "identifying the perpetrators of the crimes," saying that "measures must be taken against them."
For his part, National Police spokesman Didi Prasetyo said in a televised press conference, "Based on the investigation that was conducted (...) the National Police Chief took a decision tonight to relieve the Chief of Police of Malang City, Ferli Hedayat, from his duties and replace him" in addition to "suspending the work of nine policemen." and interrogation," after 28 other policemen were interrogated.
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