Hundreds of Indonesian Police Officers Apologise For Deaths in Recent Tragic Football Game

Following a tragic riot which saw mass casualties at a stadium in Indonesia after football fans from the losing team  stormed the field, the Indonesian police have been feeling remorseful for all of the lives lost.

So much so, that hundreds of them were recently seen lying prostrate as a sign of apologies.

According to a report by Kompas, members of the Malang City Police lied prostrate as a form of apology for the deaths of those present during the incident at the Kanjuruhan Stadium on October 1, 2022.

“When the police at the Malang City station prostrate in such a way, hopefully this can convince the public that the police really want to provide an antidote for the wound,” shared a police observer, Reza Indragiri Amriel.

He went on to praise the attitudes of the police officers, explaining that it is similar to the sympathetic actions carried out by officers in the United States, who knelt as a gesture of apology after the death of George Floyd in May 25, 2020.

He also emphasised that the show of apology and remorse is very important as a form of regret for the people who lost loved ones in the incident.

“Unlike criminal and ethical matters, which may take a few weeks or months to complete, the people’s inner wounds will definitely open up for a very long time,” he added.

Reza hopes that the Indonesian police will also improve themselves to be more serious about carrying out internal reforms.

“It’s been booming for decades, and echoed again in recent days, but how will the reforms be carried out?”

It’s truly amazing to see how the Indonesian police are taking accountability for what happened and are remorseful about the situation.

Our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives during the incident. We hope that the incident will result in reforms within the police force. 

Also read: FAM To Re-evaluate & Tighten SOPs For Entry of Supporters Following Incident in Indonesia