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
Location: Kanjuruhan Stadium
Region: Indonesia, East Java, Malang, Kepanjen
Total number of victims: 130
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
MUCHAMAD ARIFIN TUMPANG, football supporter
male
45
Unknown
right to life
2.
1
MOCH HASHFI AL WAFI WAGIR, football supporter
male
16
Unknown
right to life
3.
1
RONI SETIAWAN KROMENGAN, football supporter
male
23
Unknown
right to life
4.
1
ANGGRAENI DWI KRUNIASARI SUMBERPUCUNG, football supporter
female
20
Unknown
right to life
5.
1
VIKY ROHIBALA TAJINAN, football supporter
male
27
Unknown
right to life
6.
1
IWAN JUNAEDI SINGOSARI, football supporter
male
45
Unknown
right to life
7.
1
FAIQOTUL HIKMAH SUMBERSARI JEMBER, football supporter
female
22
Unknown
right to life
8.
1
FILLAH AZIZ FIRMANSYAH GONDANGLEGI, football supporter
male
21
Unknown
right to life
9.
1
ELISABETH AGUSTIN TUMPANG, football supporter
female
16
Unknown
right to life
10.
1
MOH RIZKI DARMAWAN GARUM BLITAR, football supporter
male
16
Unknown
right to life
11.
1
GILANG SURYA RAMADANI BLIMBING, football supporter
male
20
Unknown
right to life
12.
1
ANIK HARIANI PAGAK, football supporter
female
40
Unknown
right to life
13.
1
HADI KURNIAWAN BATU, football supporter
male
22
Unknown
right to life
14.
1
HUTRI ADI HERMANTO PAKISAJI, football supporter
male
37
Unknown
right to life
15.
1
AHMAD WAHYUDI LOWOKWARU, football supporter
male
27
Unknown
right to life
16.
1
MOHAMMAD ADIT PAGELARAN, football supporter
male
27
Unknown
right to life
17.
1
JEFRI IKLASTUL AMAL GEDANGAN, football supporter
male
27
Unknown
right to life
18.
1
AHMAD DANI SAFARUDIN KEPANJEN, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
19.
1
MOCH. TEGAR ARDIAN PAKISAJI, football supporter
male
17
Unknown
right to life
20.
1
ARNOLD PAGELARAN, football supporters
female
22
Unknown
right to life
21.
1
MOCH. ABID HUSNI BANTUR, football supporters
male
18
Unknown
right to life
22.
1
MUHAMMAD NOVAL PUTRA AULIA SUMBERSARI JEMBER, football supporters
male
21
Unknown
right to life
23.
1
EKO VIKI SULISTIYONO TAJINAN TERIDENTIFIKASI, football supporter
male
26
Unknown
right to life
24.
1
HADIYATUS TSANIYAH UJUNG PANGKAH GRESIK, football supporter
female
24
Unknown
right to life
25.
1
MUHAMMAD UBAIDILLAH PAKIS, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
26.
1
ALFINIA MAHARANI PUTRI LOWOKWARU, football supporter
female
20
Unknown
right to life
27.
1
WAHYUDI WAJAK, football supporter
male
22
Unknown
right to life
28.
1
MOH BINTANG PRATAMA KROMENGAN, football supporter
male
27
Unknown
right to life
29.
1
GABY ASTA PUTRI WAJAK, football supporter
female
37
Unknown
right to life
30.
1
TASYA WAJAK, football supporter
female
16
Unknown
right to life
31.
1
EVI NUR ROSIDAH KALIPARE, football supporter
female
22
Unknown
right to life
32.
1
LALA WAJAK, football supporter
female
14
Unknown
right to life
33.
1
HENDRIK GUNAWAN PURWODADI PASURUAN, football supporter
male
21
Unknown
right to life
34.
1
RADINA ASTRID YUFITASARI SUKUN, football supporter
female
20
Unknown
right to life
35.
1
MUHAMMAD HAFIZH APRILIANTO KEDUNGKANDANG KOTA MALANG, football supporter
male
19
Unknown
right to life
36.
1
AUDI NESIA ALFIARI KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
female
12
Unknown
right to life
37.
1
SHIFWA DINAR KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
female
17
Unknown
right to life
38.
1
BRAGI KUSUMA AMPELGADING, football supporters
male
20
Unknown
right to life
39.
1
AGUS RIANSYAHPRATAMA PUTRA PURWOSARI PASURUAN, football supporters
female
20
Unknown
right to life
40.
1
GABRIEL WONOSARI, football supporter
male
16
Unknown
right to life
41.
1
FAIZ AL FIKRY NGUNUT BLITAR, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
42.
1
RATNA INDRIYANI BULULAWANG, football supporter
female
26
Unknown
right to life
43.
1
FIRMAN NUR ABIDIN KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
male
32
Unknown
right to life
44.
1
M RIZAL ILHAMIN AMPELGADING, football supporters
male
18
Unknown
right to life
45.
1
GEBY SETYAWARDANI PAGAK, football supporters
female
16
Unknown
right to life
46.
1
MOH. IRSYAD AL JUNED LOWOKWARU, football supporter
male
20
Unknown
right to life
47.
1
CITRA AYU AMELIA PAKISAJI, football supporter
female
15
Unknown
right to life
48.
1
SALSA YONAS OCTAVIA SUKUN, football supporter
female
39
Unknown
right to life
49.
1
REVANO PRASETYO WONOSARI, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
50.
1
MUNIFA LATIFUL IKSAN NGARIBOYO MAGETAN, football supporter
male
20
Unknown
right to life
51.
1
WILDAN RAMADANI PAGELARAN, football supporter
male
19
Unknown
right to life
52.
1
ABIAN HASYI RIFKI KRAKSAAN PROBOLINGGO, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
53.
1
ANDIKA BAYU PRADANA NGLEGOK BLITAR, football supporter
male
20
Unknown
right to life
54.
1
FAJAR YOYOK TRENGGALEK BRIPTU POLRES TRENGGALEK, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
55.
1
ANDIK PURWANTO TULUNGAGUNG BRIPKAPOLRES TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
unknown
right to life
56.
1
SYAHRULLAH GONDANG LEGI, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
57.
1
INDHI RAHMA PUTRI, TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
female
19
Unknown
right to life
58.
1
MUH. VIRDI PRAYOGA BLIMBING KOTA MALANG, football supporter
male
3
Unknown
right to life
59.
1
KLARISTA DISCA SAPUTRI WAGIR, football supporter
female
18
Unknown
right to life
60.
1
HERLANGGA ADITAMA TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
61.
1
LUTVIA DAMAYANTI BLIMBING, football supporter
female
20
Unknown
right to life
62.
1
MOCHAMAD ALI MUHTAR WAJAK, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
63.
1
NAFISATUL MUKHOYAROH KLOJEN, football supporter
female
24
Unknown
right to life
64.
1
EL VIDUALLY SUKUN, football supporter
male
23
Unknown
right to life
65.
1
SANDI SANJAYA KALIPARE, football supporter
male
21
Unknown
right to life
66.
1
MUSTOFA BLITAR, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
67.
1
M. RIAN FAUZI TUREN, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
68.
1
KAKA WIDAD DAU, football supporter
male
17
Unknown
right to life
69.
1
HADINATA SUMBERGEMPOL TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
21
Unknown
right to life
70.
1
ANGGER A.P KOTA MALANG, football supporter
female
19
Unknown
right to life
71.
1
LINDA SETYA DAMPIT, football supporter
female
18
Unknown
right to life
72.
1
LAMHADI IRAWAN KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
male
20
Unknown
right to life
73.
1
WAHYU NUR UTOMO TUMPANG, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
74.
1
ACH NUR CAHYO PAKIS, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
75.
1
ACHMAD HUSEN RAHMADANI SUMBER GEMPOL TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
16
Unknown
right to life
76.
1
RIYO EDIT SETYAWAN TUMPANG, football supporter
male
21
Unknown
right to life
77.
1
M. ARI MAULANA PAKIS, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
78.
1
RUDI HARIYANTO BLIMBING, football supporter
male
34
Unknown
right to life
79.
1
PRATIWI PURWOSARI PASURUAN, football supporter
female
25
Unknown
right to life
80.
1
SEPTIAN RAGIL SYAHPUTRA PAKISAJI, football supporter
male
21
Unknown
right to life
81.
1
AHMAD KHOIRUL HUDA GARUM BLITAR, football supporter
male
28
Unknown
right to life
82.
1
YUNIA NGAJUM, football supporter
female
19
Unknown
right to life
83.
1
DAFA YUNANTO TUREN, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
84.
1
PUTRI LESTARI TUREN, football supporter
female
21
Unknown
right to life
85.
1
HINDUN DIANA SUMBERMANJING WETAN, football supporter
female
19
Unknown
right to life
86.
1
MUHAMMAD NIZAMUDIN REJOSO PASURUAN, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
87.
1
YANUAR DWI BRAMANTYO KANIGARAN PROBOLINGGO, football supporter
male
13
Unknown
right to life
88.
1
MOH. HENDRA PAGAK, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
89.
1
FAIZ AL FIKRI NGUNUT TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
90.
1
MOH AKBAR ARRAHAN GONDANGLEGI, football supporter
male
14
Unknown
right to life
91.
1
MOCH. RIKKY ADITYA TUMPANG, football supporter
male
13
Unknown
right to life
92.
1
HANDIKA RIZKY TRIONO SUMBERPUCUNG, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
93.
1
RIA AMELIA PUTRI KEDUNGKANDANG KOTA MALANG, football supporter
female
19
Unknown
right to life
94.
1
ABDAN AGENG FAUZAN WAGIR, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
95.
1
FAREL ATYANABI PAKIS, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
96.
1
MOH. KINDI ARRUMI PROBOLINGGO, football supporter
male
16
Unknown
right to life
97.
1
DEVI RATNASARI P KLOJEN, football supporter
female
unknown
Unknown
right to life
98.
1
MUCH. YULIANTO KLOJEN, football supporter
male
40
Unknown
right to life
99.
1
NAJWA KLOJEN, football supporter
female
15
Unknown
right to life
100.
1
ANGGAPRASDIYANSYAH SUKUN, football supporter
male
34
Unknown
right to life
101.
1
MUH. FEBRIANSYAH LOWOKWARU, football supporter
male
17
Unknown
right to life
102.
1
NOVAL BUDIONO AMPEL GADING, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
103.
1
HERLANGGA ADITAMA TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
104.
1
ADITYA DIMAS PRATAMA TUMPANG, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
105.
1
DAFFA FAKHRUDIN WIJAYA KLOJEN, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
106.
1
RIYAN KRAJAN NONGKOJAJAR, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
107.
1
MUH. MUNGIZUL HIDAYATULLAH BLITAR, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
108.
1
MAYANG AGUSTIN SUMBER PUCUNG, football supporter
female
unknown
Unknown
right to life
109.
1
NITA MAULIDYA KLOJEN, football supporter
female
27
Unknown
right to life
110.
1
RANGGA P SAPUTRA SUKUN, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
111.
1
MUHAMMAD HAIKAL MAULANA TULUNGAGUNG, football supporter
male
17
Unknown
right to life
112.
1
EKA PRIYATI MEI WULANDARI PAKIS, football supporter
female
18
Unknown
right to life
113.
1
RIZKY DWI KRAJAN PROBOLINGGO, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
114.
1
RIZKY WAHYUDI SUMBER PUCUNG, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
115.
1
FAJAR KHOIRUN AHMAD SINGOSARI, football supporter
male
unknown
Unknown
right to life
116.
1
IBNU MUHAMMAD RAFI KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
117.
1
YULIO DINI PRASTIAWAN SUMBERPUCUNG, football supporter
male
14
Unknown
right to life
118.
1
HILDAN ADISTA, football supporter
male
17
Unknown
right to life
119.
1
HAIKAL TIRTOYUDO, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
120.
1
MUHAMMAD NAILUL AUTHOR PAGAK, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
121.
1
BAHRUL ULUM KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
male
22
Unknown
right to life
122.
1
KUSNAENI BLITAR, football supporter
female
unknown
Unknown
right to life
123.
1
JOVAN FARELLINO YUSEIFA PRATAMA, football supporter
male
15
Unknown
right to life
124.
1
RIYANG AMBARWATI KEPANJEN, football supporter
female
20
Unknown
right to life
125.
1
HAFISKA DWI ANINDITYA WAGIR, football supporter
female
14
Unknown
right to life
126.
1
REVANYA SALWA SYAHRINI BLIMBING, football supporter
female
18
Unknown
right to life
127.
1
IWAN BLIMBING, football supporter
male
45
Unknown
right to life
128.
1
MUHAMMAD ILHAM SABILILLAH KEDUNGKANDANG, football supporter
male
18
Unknown
right to life
129.
1
VERA PUSPITA AYU LOWOKWARU, football supporter
female
22
Unknown
right to life
130.
1
MOKHAMAD ABDURROHMAN LOWOKWARU, football supporter
male
29
Unknown
right to life
Perpetrator: Indonesian Police
Perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: women and childrenSources:
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