October 4, 2022
JAKARTA – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa has pledged that he will punish members of the military who were caught on camera kicking and punching soccer supporters at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, shortly before an on-pitch melee turned into a stampede that killed 125 people on Saturday.
Andika told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Monday that soldiers involved in the incident would be prosecuted and that the TNI had also launched an investigation to look into the extent of violence committed by those soldiers.
“We’re not looking into disciplinary actions, but criminal prosecution, because what was displayed was an excessive use of force. It was not self-defense, it was purely criminal action,” Andika said as quoted by Antara news wire.
Andika also pledged that an internal team was now looking into the identity of soldiers engaged in the violent acts.
“We will have the results by tomorrow afternoon. We promise,” Andika said.
At least 125 people died at the soccer stadium in Malang late on Saturday when fans invaded the field and police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede, officials said.
Arema FC supporters at the Kanjuruhan stadium stormed the field after their team lost 3-2 to Persebaya Surabaya, the first loss in more than two decades to their bitter rival.
In a variety of footage shot from cellphone cameras, TNI soldiers could be seen chasing after Arema fans on the field and kicking and beating them with batons shortly before police personnel started firing tear gas at the fans on the field and supporters in the stands.
Mengapa?#kanjuruhan #malang pic.twitter.com/bj9qMsS2Im
— Ariel Heryanto (@ariel_heryanto) October 2, 2022