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Bloomberg
A deadly stampede at an Indonesian soccer match triggered by police firing tear gas has added pressure on President Joko Widodo to overhaul a security force often criticized for brutality and corruption.
The tragedy over the weekend left 125 people dead and is one of the world’s worst stadium disasters. It was also the first time Indonesian police used tear gas to break up a riot among team supporters in east Java — an action that international soccer governing body FIFA prohibits.
The police defended their actions saying the fighting threatened the safety of their officers and spectators. But it triggered an outpouring of criticism on social media — including flooding the Twitter page of the police public relations division — calling for resignations of the top cops as well as those on the ground involved in the incident.
“Public dissatisfaction with the police is growing, especially when it’s seen as being heavy-handed toward the poor and not discharging their duties fairly,†said Bambang Harymurti, the former editor-in-chief of local news outlet Tempo who has been writing about Indonesian politics for four decades.
“The police’s actions could spur calls for reforms. And Jokowi’s standing can get better if he takes a firmer stand and look into the police’s excessive use of force,†he added.
Jokowi — as the president is popularly known — took a hit in opinion polls after his recent move to hike fuel prices at a time when inflation is at a seven-year high sent thousands onto the streets to protest. Though he still enjoys widespread support, he is coming under pressure to reform the police.
The president, whose office controls the police force, has since ordered the football league to suspend matches until investigations are completed and security procedures are improved.