UNAIR NEWS – Airlangga Forum 102 was held to discuss the Kanjuruhan disaster on October 7, 2022. Dr. Prawitra Thalib SH MH, the Coordinator of the Master Program of Police Science Universitas Airlangga attended the event as the keynote speaker. He believed waiting for the police’s investigation result announcement would be a wise choice.

“Who is to blame? In the eye of the law, we should wait until the investigation result of the Joint Independent Fact Finding Team (TGPF),” he said. According to the current investigation, several people have been held accountable.

Prawitra emphasized that the organizers had made maximum efforts to prevent chaos, like prohibiting Persebaya supporters from seeing the match in the Kanjuruhan Stadium.

“There are few attempts offered, like the schedule change request. However, due to some considerations, like rating and such, the offers are ignored,” said the lecturer of Faculty of Law (FH).

Certain stadium guidelines are required to prevent such chaos in the future. “A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) needs to be arranged, it is a system with certain standards for the hosting stadium,” Prawitra said.

The standards will cover evacuation routes in case of disaster or riot as well. “We see the tragedy was due to ineffective evacuation procedures until it claimed lives,” he stated.

He hoped that the tragedy would give a lesson and must not happen again ever.

“One more, if we only hope and pray, the prevention won’t run effectively. There is a possibility that such chaos will happen again in the future. Therefore, real actions are needed,” said the Police Science lecturer.

The actions should cover both repressive and preventive procedures. Those should be realized with practically measured actions.

“If such case happens again in the future, there are certain actions to minimize the victims. We can start with arranging the evacuation route and procedure in every sport match. This should be evaluated,” Prawitro added.

“I believe it’s a reprimand and test for us. It’s a test to be a better human race. We don’t just think about the current situation, but based on the past experience to build a better future,” he said.

Author: Ghulam Phasa Pambayung Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia