On 1 October 2022, the chaos that ended in tragedy took over the stadium after a football competition between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java. As a result of the incident, as of 5 October 2022, 131 people were reported dead(*) and hundreds injured. Thirty-four people died inside the stadium; the remaining victims died in the hospital. This has been, so far, the darkest football tragedy in the history of Indonesian football.
The police response to the crowd unrest has raised questions about this tragedy’s human rights violations. The use of excessive force by the authorities caused the audience to panic and desperately look for an exit to find safety. People died from suffocation, trampling, and running out of oxygen due to tear gas released by the police towards the stands. Moreover, as per FIFA regulations, teargas should not have been carried out by the police around the perimeter of the field.
Kanjuruhan Stadium hosts the 11th week of the 2022-2023 League 1 match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Persebaya has never won at Arema’s home ground for decades of competing. That night, Persebaya defeated Arema FC with a score of 2:3. Some disappointed Arema FC supporters approached the field. According to the East Java Police Chief, Inspector General Nico, initially, only a few went down to the area and looked for Arema players and officials. They asked why they lost against Persebaya. After that, the police provided security to the players. The police dissuaded the audience from invading the field and looking for the players.
The statement of the East Java Police Chief is almost the same as the testimony of one of the Aremania who survived. Rezqi Wahyu, in his Twitter account @RezqiWahyu_05, admitted that the riots began to break out when a supporter from the direction of the South Stand was desperate to enter and approach two Arema players, namely defender Sergio Silva and goalkeeper Adilson Maringa. According to him, the two people seemed to provide motivation and criticism. After that, several other Aremania followed down and expressed their disappointment with the players. Suddenly, thousands of spectators scattered to the field, followed by throwing objects into the area. The supporters were getting out of control. The authorities also made various efforts to repel the supporters. The treatment that Rezki wrote about was ruthless and sadistic; being hit with a long stick, one supporter was ganged up on by the authorities, collided with a shield, and many other actions. In the videos that circulated, soldiers were seen kicking Arema supporters, even when they were walking on the sidelines.
The supporters then attacked the authorities and were rewarded with successive tear gas shots. There were also police who immediately fired tear gas toward the stands. The supporters who panicked because of the tear gas were increasingly chaotic in the stands. They ran around looking for the exit, but unfortunately, the entrance was already crowded.
Rizki’s testimony was followed by the testimony of eyewitnesses who began to speak up on October 3, 2022. Not only once, but the police also fired tear gas several times toward the stands. An Aremania eyewitness, Dadang Indarto, said the first tear gas shooting occurred in the east sector, after which it continued in the north sector once in sector 8 of the stadium 10-14. The first tear gas shot was not so powerful. The second shot at stands one to 14 occurred almost simultaneously. According to him, the second shot was mighty, and the gas was very painful. He felt this was not the usual tear gas used to dispel the masses. His vision blurred, his eyes stung, and his breathing laboured. Suddenly, the tear gas made the spectators in the stands panic and scatter to find the exit.
Usually, at a soccer match, 15 minutes before the end, all the stadium doors are opened, but not on that day. Almost all exits were closed. In the video, it is obvious how football spectators are crowded at gate 13. Many people, including women, limp, but the doors are not opened. Eko Rianto, one of the survivors, said that he found gate 13 locked even though many people were screaming that they could not stand the tear gas. Many children and women faint. According to the testimony of a Curva sud representative (Arema FC supporter), Door 13 was opened in the 85th minute; there were still police and security forces at that time. A witness even left and re-entered through gate 13 in the 85th minute. She heard tear gas, so she went to the stands, and gate 13 was closed when she returned.
Another witness at the East Gate said that only that door was open. Two people can only pass that door at the same time—the position of the door from the stadium downhill. Automatically, if just one person falls due to pushing from behind, that’s where the accumulation occurs, and the back is stuck. Detained people cannot immediately get out while tear gas disturbs the eyes. Moreover, the electricity in the direction of the tear gas shot died. In Komnas HAM’s temporary investigation, it turned out that only two of the 14 stadium doors were open during the riot incident.
Outside the stadium, the situation was also tense, with several cars being burned. After the car burning incident, the authorities fired tear gas—the testimony of the shopkeeper in front of the stadium said that around 11 pm, supporters who were not involved in the riot entered his shop. Most of them were women and children. The police fired tear gas up to three times toward his shop. He asked the police why tear gas was fired at a stall that sold food and drinks. There were women and children there. The police said it was probably a misfire. However, according to him, the misfire was not only once but several times.
There were many fatal mistakes in the management of this football match—from stadium overcapacity to the organisation of competitions at night. Nugroho Setiawan, AFC Security officer, said this was a high-risk football match because of a history of rivalry between Persebaya supporters and Arema FC supporters. There is a history of hostility. Therefore, the stadium should be at a safe capacity of only 70% of the stadium capacity so that there is room for movement. However, the committee printed 42,588 tickets even though the ability of the Kanjuruhan stadium was only for 38,000 people. The police and the committee, dated September 29, 2022, had requested that the match be held in the afternoon, not at night. However, the league operator, PT Liga Indonesia Baru, did not want to change the schedule. They follow the television schedule from the broadcaster, namely pursuing prime time. Of the various mistakes, the most fatal was tear gas and weapons inside the stadium. Even though according to the FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulation article 19 point B, firearms and tear gas should not be carried or used around the field in the stadium.
The Chairperson of Komnas HAM has called for the State to take responsibility for this incident. There is evidence of violence by the authorities. Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, Choirul Anam, said that the casualties could have been avoided if there had been no tear gas. Chairman of Komnas HAM, Ahmad Taufan Damanik, on October 2, 2022, asked the government to be responsible for health and humanitarian aspects and other losses caused by this incident. Komnas also asked the police to conduct a thorough investigation of this tragedy. Komnas HAM has sent a monitor to investigate the human rights aspects of this incident. Komnas is still investigating the location of most of the victims who died, whether near the tear gas canisters or in other areas. Komnas is also investigating the allegation that the tear gas used by the authorities during the riots had expired.
Meanwhile, the police, on October 3, 2022, through the Police Public Relations Division, Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo said that the police had raised the investigation status to an investigation into the Stadium Tragedy case. The police investigated the basis of Article 359 of the Criminal Code and Article 360 of the Criminal Code. Meanwhile, 28 police officers will examine for alleged violations of the code of ethics. TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa, on October 5, 2022, said that he had examined five soldiers, four of whom had confessed. Andika said TNI personnel attacked residents without justification, even kicking when supporters turned their backs on them, as seen in various videos.
(*) Update from 23.10.2022: The number of deaths increased to 135. A total of 579 people were injured.
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Kanjuruhan Stadium (-8.141348375485295, 112.57382099539012)
administrative region: Indonesia, East Java Province, Malang Regency, Kepanjen District
total number of victims: 131
period of incident: 01.10.2022
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: freedom of peaceful assembly, right to life
Sources: https://www.beritasatu.com/news/985179/dinkes-rilis-daftar-namanama-korban-meninggal-tragedi-kanjuruhan, https://jatim.tribunnews.com/2022/10/03/polri-naikkan-status-penyidikan-kasus-tragedi-stadion-kanjuruhan-28-polisi-akan-diperiksa-kode-etik, https://news.detik.com/berita/d-6330273/panglima-tni-5-prajurit-diperiksa-soal-tragedi-kanjuruhan
Further HRM News: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/president-jokowi-establishes-a-fact-fiding-team-to-further-investigate-the-tragedy-in-kajuruan-stadium/
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violation |
| 1 | MUCHAMAD ARIFIN, TUMPANG (identified) | Male | 45 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOCH HASHFI AL WAFI, WAGIR (identified) | Male | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RONI SETIAWAN, KROMENGAN (identified) | Male | 23 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ANGGRAENI DWI KRUNIASARI, SUMBERPUCUNG (identified) | Female | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | VIKY ROHIBALA, TAJINAN (identified) | Male | 27 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | IWAN JUNAEDI, SINGOSARI (identified) | Male | 45 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FAIQOTUL HIKMAH, SUMBERSARI, JEMBER (identified) | Female | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FILLAH AZIZ FIRMANSYAH, GONDANGLEGI (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ELISABETH AGUSTIN, TUMPANG (identified) | Female | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOH RIZKI DARMAWAN, GARUM, BLITAR (identified) | Male | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | GILANG SURYA RAMADANI BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ANIK HARIANI, PAGAK (identified) | Female | 40 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HADI KURNIAWAN, BATU (identified) | Male | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HUTRI ADI HERMANTO, PAKISAJI (identified) | Male | 37 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | AHMAD WAHYUDI, LOWOKWARU, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 27 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOHAMMAD ADIT, PAGELARAN (identified) | Male | 27 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | JEFRI IKLASTUL AMAL, GEDANGAN (identified) | Male | 27 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | AHMAD DANI SAFARUDIN, KEPANJEN (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOCH. TEGAR ARDIAN, PAKISAJI (identified) | Male | 17 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ARNOLD, PAGELARAN (identified) | Female | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOCH. ABID HUSNI, BANTUR (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD NOVAL PUTRA AULIA, SUMBERSARI, JEMBER (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | EKO VIKI SULISTIYONO, TAJINAN TERIDENTIFIKASI | Male | 26 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HADIYATUS TSANIYAH, UJUNG PANGKAH, GRESIK (identified) | Female | 24 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD UBAIDILLAH, PAKIS (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ALFINIA MAHARANI PUTRI, LOWOKWARU, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | WAHYUDI, WAJAK (identified) | Male | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOH BINTANG PRATAMA, KROMENGAN (identified) | Male | 27 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | GABY ASTA PUTRI, WAJAK (identified) | Female | 37 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | TASYA, WAJAK (identified) | Female | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | EVI NUR ROSIDAH, KALIPARE (identified) | Female | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | LALA, WAJAK (identified) | Female | 14 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HENDRIK GUNAWAN, PURWODADI, PASURUAN (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RADINA ASTRID YUFITASARI, SUKUN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD HAFIZH APRILIANTO, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | AUDI NESIA ALFIARI, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 12 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | SHIFWA DINAR, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 17 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | BRAGI KUSUMA, AMPELGADING (identified) | Male | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | AGUS RIANSYAHPRATAMA PUTRA, PURWOSARI, PASURUAN (identified) | Female | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | GABRIEL, WONOSARI (identified) | Male | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FAIZ AL FIKRY, NGUNUT, BLITAR (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RATNA INDRIYANI, BULULAWANG (identified) | Female | 26 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FIRMAN NUR ABIDIN, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 32 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | M RIZAL ILHAMIN, AMPELGADING (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | GEBY SETYAWARDANI, PAGAK (identified) | Female | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOH. IRSYAD AL JUNED, LOWOKWARU, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | CITRA AYU AMELIA, PAKISAJI (identified) | Female | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | SALSA YONAS OCTAVIA, SUKUN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 39 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | REVANO PRASETYO, WONOSARI (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUNIFA LATIFUL IKSAN, NGARIBOYO, MAGETAN (identified) | Male | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | WILDAN RAMADANI, PAGELARAN (identified) | Male | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ABIAN HASYI RIFKI, KRAKSAAN, PROBOLINGGO (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ANDIKA BAYU PRADANA, NGLEGOK, BLITAR (identified) | Male | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FAJAR YOYOK, TRENGGALEK BRIPTU POLRES TRENGGALEK | Male | unknown | Police | right to life |
| 1 | ANDIK PURWANTO, TULUNGAGUNG BRIPKAPOLRES TULUNGAGUNG | Male | Unknown | Police | right to life |
| 1 | SYAHRULLAH, GONDANG LEGI (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | INDHI RAHMA PUTRI, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Female | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUH. VIRDI PRAYOGA, BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 3 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | KLARISTA DISCA SAPUTRI, WAGIR (identified) | Female | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HERLANGGA ADITAMA, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | LUTVIA DAMAYANTI, BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOCHAMAD ALI MUHTAR, WAJAK (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | NAFISATUL MUKHOYAROH, KLOJEN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 24 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | EL VIDUALLY, SUKUN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 23 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | SANDI SANJAYA, KALIPARE (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUSTOFA, BLITAR (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | M. RIAN FAUZI, TUREN (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | KAKA WIDAD, DAU (identified) | Male | 17 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HADINATA, SUMBERGEMPOL, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ANGGER A.P, KOTA MALANG, (identified) | Female | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | LINDA SETYA, DAMPIT (identified) | Female | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | LAMHADI IRAWAN, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | WAHYU NUR UTOMO, TUMPANG (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ACH NUR CAHYO, PAKIS (identified) | Male | Football supporters | right to life | |
| 1 | ACHMAD HUSEN RAHMADANI, SUMBER GEMPOL, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Male | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RIYO EDIT SETYAWAN, TUMPANG (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | M. ARI MAULANA, PAKIS (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RUDI HARIYANTO, BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 34 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | PRATIWI, PURWOSARI, PASURUAN (identified) | Female | 25 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | SEPTIAN RAGIL SYAHPUTRA, PAKISAJI (identified) | Male | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | AHMAD KHOIRUL HUDA, GARUM, BLITAR (identified) | Male | 28 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | YUNIA, NGAJUM (identified) | Female | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | DAFA YUNANTO, TUREN (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | PUTRI LESTARI, TUREN (identified) | Female | 21 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HINDUN DIANA, SUMBERMANJING WETAN (identified) | Female | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD NIZAMUDIN, REJOSO, PASURUAN (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | YANUAR DWI BRAMANTYO, KANIGARAN, PROBOLINGGO (identified) | Male | 13 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOH. HENDRA, PAGAK (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FAIZ AL FIKRI, NGUNUT, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOH AKBAR ARRAHAN, GONDANGLEGI (identified) | Male | 14 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOCH. RIKKY ADITYA, TUMPANG (identified) | Male | 13 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HANDIKA RIZKY TRIONO, SUMBERPUCUNG (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RIA AMELIA PUTRI, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 19 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ABDAN AGENG FAUZAN, WAGIR (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FAREL ATYANABI, PAKIS (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOH. KINDI ARRUMI, PROBOLINGGO (identified) | Male | 16 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | DEVI RATNASARI P KLOJEN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUCH. YULIANTO, KLOJEN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 40 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | NAJWA, KLOJEN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ANGGAPRASDIYANSYAH, SUKUN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 34 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUH. FEBRIANSYAH, LOWOKWARU, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 17 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | NOVAL BUDIONO, AMPEL GADING (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HERLANGGA ADITAMA, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | ADITYA DIMAS PRATAMA, TUMPANG (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | DAFFA FAKHRUDIN WIJAYA, KLOJEN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RIYAN, KRAJAN NONGKOJAJAR (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUH. MUNGIZUL HIDAYATULLAH, BLITAR (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MAYANG AGUSTIN, SUMBER PUCUNG (identified) | Female | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | NITA MAULIDYA, KLOJEN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 27 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RANGGA P SAPUTRA, SUKUN, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD HAIKAL MAULANA, TULUNGAGUNG (identified) | Male | 17 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | EKA PRIYATI MEI WULANDARI, PAKIS (identified) | Female | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RIZKY DWI, KRAJAN PROBOLINGGO (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RIZKY WAHYUDI, SUMBER PUCUNG (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | FAJAR KHOIRUN AHMAD, SINGOSARI (identified) | Male | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | IBNU MUHAMMAD RAFI, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | YULIO DINI PRASTIAWAN, SUMBERPUCUNG (identified) | Male | 14 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HILDAN ADISTA, (identified) | Male | 17 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HAIKAL, TIRTOYUDO (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD NAILUL AUTHOR, PAGAK (identified) MD was immediately taken home by the family from the scene (Family confirmation) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | BAHRUL ULUM, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | KUSNAENI, BLITAR (identified) | Female | Unknown | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | JOVAN FARELLINO YUSEIFA PRATAMA PUTRA, BULULAWANG (identified) | Male | 15 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | RIYANG AMBARWATI, KEPANJEN (identified) | Female | 20 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | HAFISKA DWI ANINDITYA, WAGIR (identified) | Female | 14 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | REVANYA SALWA SYAHRINI, BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | IWAN, BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 45 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MUHAMMAD ILHAM SABILILLAH, KEDUNGKANDANG, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 18 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | VERA PUSPITA AYU, LOWOKWARU, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Female | 22 | Football supporters | right to life |
| 1 | MOKHAMAD ABDURROHMAN, LOWOKWARU, KOTA MALANG (identified) | Male | 29 | Football supporters | right to life |
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