Indonesia is where the authority is not the solution but the problem

Indonesia is grieving after more than 130 people, including 40 children, were killed in a soccer stadium stampede in Malang, East Java, last week. The tragedy is considered one of the world's deadliest sporting disasters in history. Human rights groups believe that the death toll can reach up to 200.

An investigation by The Washington Post shows that the police are responsible for this disaster by using tear gas, prohibited by FIFA, soccer's global governing body.  Their analysis pointed out that it was the police's violent action in firing at least 40 tear gas munitions at the crowd that led to the deadly incident. 

A local fact-finding team added that the stadium's overcrowded condition was also a contributing factor. 

The Indonesian police have named six suspects in this case, including three officers who used tear gas. But many are still unsatisfied because they are not the real culprit. These officers are likely to take such an action  based on orders from their bosses. 

This incident is the latest case in Indonesia, where the authority is not the solution but a source of problems instead.

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Ika Krismantari

Chief Editor/Content Director