FAMILIES, friends and survivors are still experiencing psychological trauma from losing their loved ones and witnessing people suffer from tear gas.
It’s been a month since the horrific stampede at Malang’s Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java, which caused at least 135 deaths.
Daniel Alexander Siagian, a 24-year-old executive director at the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) has been working with individuals who were at the stadium and are now suffering from the trauma of being there.
“Many survivors have experienced various traumas, from feeling paranoid in crowded areas, being triggered when seeing a policeman or even being scared from seeing people wearing a soccer shirt,” Daniel said.
Yohanes Prasetyo, an avid fan of Arema, Malang’s soccer club, currently works as an operator at a plastic-blow moulding machine store. The 25-year-old said that his emotional state fluctuated unpredictably. Yohanes was at the scene when the stampede took place and he witnessed tear gas being sprayed toward an audience where mothers, young children and teenagers were seated at the stadium.
“I would say I could easily get mad these days. If I hear the word ‘Kanjuruhan’, I become devastated and frustrated,” Yohanes said. A video of Yohanes being beaten by someone who appeared to be a police officer, which spread on social media. Yohanes was hit at the back of his head and suffered a minor injury. “If there is anything I have to say, sometimes, I really want to take revenge on the policeman who hit me from the back,” Yohanes said.
Gilang Adam Lionil Krisnanda, a 12-year-old high school student, said that he was traumatised and now scared of crowds. He said he did not know when he would be able to go back to watching live soccer matches.
Gilang received four stitches on his temple and several injuries, including his eyes, due to tear gas, and a scratch on his left leg while running during the stampede.
“I will not go to another soccer match after witnessing the stampede. It makes you feel unsafe,” Gilang said. He now feels afraid when seeing a big crowd of people.
Gilang’s father, Kristiyanto, said his son was still working on his psychological well-being. For the first few weeks after the event, Gilang was often delirious during his sleep, singing the Arema club anthem. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
