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Indonesians petition for ban on use of tear gas by police against crowds, following deadly football stampede in Malang

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2 years ago

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The calls for signing the petition to ban the use of tear gas are mounting on Twitter following the deadly football crush that killed more than 120 people at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java, on 1 October.

As of 2 pm Jakarta time, the hashtag #Tandatangani Petisi (Sign a petition) earned 7,753 tweets on Twitter, and more than 40,000 signed the petition—initiated by Blok Politik Pelajar—to halt the use of tear gas at Change.org.

The tragedy occurred when several Arema supporters—known as Aremania—stormed the pitch after the disappointing loss by the Indonesian professional football club on their home ground to the visiting team Persebaya from Surabaya, the first defeat after 23 years.

Police officers tried to prevent the disappointing supporters from entering the pitch while firing what appeared to be tear gas up in the air, which led to one of the world’s most disastrous events in soccer history.

The tear gas caused panic, and supporters pushed each other to leave the stadium, leading to a deadly crush that killed 125—according to the latest data from the Indonesian Police.

As many as 33 children died in the incident, an official at the Ministry of Women and Children Empowerment (PPPA) told AFP, as cited in Detik.

Many survivors questioned why Police rained tear gas on supporters in the upper tribune who were not involved in the riot on the pitch.

One of the Twitter users, who had already signed the petition, called all related parties responsible for hundreds of deaths.

“Who must be responsible for hundreds of deaths? Support the petition!!! The Police must stop the use of tear gas. Sign the petition chng.it/DWmCNKRw via @ChangeOrg_ID,” said @win17agustus.

Twitter user @Bimantara25 posted a video from his brother, who watched the match in the stadium.

“The video is from my brother at the tribune section 12 in the stadium. The supporters there did not trigger any riot. They were not anarchists. Why did the police fire tear gas on us?” he tweeted.

Bagus Putra Pamungkas, a journalist at Jawa Pos, expressed his grief over what happened in Kanjuruhan, questioning why the Police did not learn from a similar tragedy in 2012 —when the Police fired tear gas to disperse the crown at the Gelora Bung Tomo, Surabaya.

“The middle-aged woman ran and shouted,” Oh My God. My kid went missing.” She broke out in tears after losing her kid, who is under five years old. And lots of victims in the derby. Tear gas was shot right over the tribune section. Why did this happen?” Pamungkas expressed his anger in his tweet.

The journalist who was at the stadium covering the East Java derby stated he lost his desire to write after hearing many people cried looking for their missing relatives, siblings, and friends.

“I lost my desire for writing after hearing cries broke up. Mothers lost their children. Elder brothers lost younger ones. Friends lost friends. We, journalists, were stuck. We helped those who lost their loved ones,” he added in his tweet.

One of the viral videos of the incident came from the Twitter account @adilah_iqbal where it showed a supporter being hit by a police officer at the head after asking the police officer not to use tear gas.

https://twitter.com/adilah_iqbal/status/1576791834130452481

“One of my friends spoke to the Police, begging him not to fire tear gas over the tribune as many small children were there. But what did he get? He got scolded, hit and forced to leave the pitch!” @adilah_iqbal tweeted.

Europe’s top leagues also expressed condolences by performing a minute of silence ahead of matches, as shown in English Premier League (EPL) and Spain’s La Liga.

World’s football association FIFA prohibits using tear gas to dispel riots as stated in its Safety and Security Regulations.

The FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations. Article 19 b) reads: ‘No firearms or “crowd control gas” shall be carried or used.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in a statement, said that the Kanjuruhan incident was a dark day in football history, adding that such a stampede was “beyond comprehension”.

“This is a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension. I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following this tragic incident,” the former UEFA General Secretary stated.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has been instructed by President Joko Widodo to conduct a thorough investigation on 2 Oct.

The Indonesia Police will summon the Head of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (PT LIB), the competition’s operator, the Head of Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) East Java Chapter, and other parties related to the incident.

The Indonesian government has also established a fact-finding team (TGPF) to probe the tragedy. The team comprises football experts, former football stars, academicians, and government representatives. Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, leads the team.

Just yesterday, the Malang Police Chief AKBP Ferli Hidayat and nine Brimob (Mobile Brigade) commanders were sacked by the Chief General — two days following the tragedy.

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Indonesia

Riau Islands govt reduces Batam-Singapore ferry fares by IDR 30K to boost tourism

The Riau Islands Provincial Government, in cooperation with ferry operators, has reduced the cost of round-trip ferry tickets on the Batam-Singapore route by IDR30,000 (US$2). This reduction, effective 24 September 2024, follows discussions held from 22-23 September. Officials anticipate further pricing adjustments as part of ongoing efforts to ensure affordability.

Published

1 week ago

on

30 September 2024

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INDONESIA: The Riau Islands Provincial Government and ferry operators have agreed to reduce round-trip ferry ticket prices for the Batam-Singapore route by IDR30,000 (US$2), effective from 24 September 2024.

This decision followed discussions between the government and ferry operators held from 22-23 September 2024.

Junaidi, Head of the Riau Islands Transportation Agency, confirmed the fare reduction in a statement on 24 September.

He explained that the IDR30,000 (US$2) price cut resulted from ferry operators’ calculations and marked the first phase of a broader review of Batam-Singapore ferry pricing.

This initial reduction aims to establish a more suitable pricing structure for ferry services between the two destinations.

Junaidi referred to remarks by Governor Ansar Ahmad, who emphasized the importance of conducting a detailed survey to understand the root causes of high ferry ticket prices.

“As Governor Ansar has mentioned, a survey will be conducted to identify the causes of the high ticket prices to determine the appropriate pricing for Batam-Singapore ferry tickets,” Junaidi added.

One factor contributing to the increase has been the rise in seaport taxes, particularly in Batam, where the tax increased from IDR65,000 (US$4.3) to IDR100,000 (US$6.62).

Additionally, ferry operators cited rising exchange rates, higher fuel costs, increased counter rental fees, and crew salary hikes as key reasons for the surge in prices.

While ferry operators have raised concerns about these pressures, Junaidi stressed that a comprehensive survey would be essential to verify the claims and guide future pricing decisions.

He noted that further steps would be taken once the survey is completed.

Junaidi also addressed ongoing delays in finalizing visa-on-arrival (VoA) regulations for foreign tourists, stating that simplifying the VoA process could significantly impact ferry passenger numbers.

He believes that easing these regulations would encourage more foreign tourists to travel between Batam and Singapore, potentially increasing ferry occupancy rates.

The issue of high ferry ticket prices has been a long-standing concern for local authorities.

Governor Ansar Ahmad had previously announced plans to form an investigation team to address the significant price hikes that have occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fares for the Batam-Singapore route experienced a sharp increase, with prices doubling after the pandemic.

One-way ticket prices, which were previously between IDR250,000 (US$16.55) and IDR350,000 (US$23.17), surged to IDR500,000 (US$33.1) to IDR550,000 (US$36.4).

In a press release issued on 23 September 2024, Governor Ansar further detailed the fare hikes, stating that round-trip ticket prices, which were once around IDR480,000 (US$31.77), had risen to approximately IDR760,000 (US$50.3).

Governor Ansar highlighted the importance of reducing ferry ticket prices to boost passenger occupancy rates and attract more foreign tourists, aligning with broader efforts to revitalize tourism in the region, which was heavily impacted by the pandemic.

The recent IDR30,000 (US$2) price reduction is seen as a first step in adjusting ferry prices to more affordable levels, with further reviews and negotiations expected to ensure sustainable and fair pricing for the Batam-Singapore route.

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Crime

Singaporean man arrested in Batam for alleged child sexual abuse

A Singaporean man was arrested in Batam, Indonesia, for sexually abusing his 16-year-old stepdaughter. The 50-year-old was apprehended at his residence in Batam on 7 September. Local authorities accused that the perpetrator repeatedly assaulted the victim during his visits to Batam, and the abuse is believed to have lasted for more than two years.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

23 September 2024

By

BATAN, INDONESIA:A Singaporean man has been arrested in Batam, Indonesia, on charges of sexually abusing his underage stepdaughter for over two years.

The 50-year-old suspect, identified only as AH, was apprehended at his residence in the Mutiara View housing complex on 7 September.

As per reported by local media, police alleged that AH repeatedly sexually assaulted his 16-year-old stepdaughter, AF, during his frequent visits to Batam.

According to Senior Police Commissioner Heribertus Ompusunggu, chief of the Barelang precinct police, the perpetrator engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim an estimated 120 times during his weekly trips to the Indonesian island.

The alleged abuse began in June 2022, shortly after AF, who used to live with her grandmother in Karawang, West Java,  moved to Batam to live with her mother.

One day in July 2022, the girl slept in the same room with AH while her mother was in another room.

The police believed that after AH may have gave AF a drink laced with jasmine flowers, he allegedly sexually assaulted her.

On 7 September, the victim’s mother sought help from a friend to escape the house, unable to endure her husband’s violent behaviour and the sexual abuse of her daughter.

The victim’s mother was afraid to report the abuse due to repeated threats from the alleged perpetrator.

The police have detained AH for further investigation into alleged violations of the 2016 law on child protection.

If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of five to 15 years, with an additional punishment of one-third of the jail term due to his status as the victim’s stepfather.

 

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