ID :
19789
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 19:42
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https://www.oananews.org//node/19789
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PRESIDENT ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO PASURUAN STAMPEDE
Jakarta, Sept 16 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed the investigation of the death of 21 people who were killed in a stampede during a tithe distribution in Pasuruan, East Java, on Monday.
"If the incident claimed lives it must be investigated. Sanction must be taken against those who are guilty so that such an incident would not recur," the president told a cabinet minister's meeting here on Tuesday.
Before opening a cabinet meeting the president asked Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni to explain the incident and steps that had been taken with regard to the tragedy.
The religious affairs minister said that the distribution of zakat (obligatory alms) which involved a large number of people such as the one in Pasuruan was not allowed without a well-planned arrangement.
He said that coupons should have been handed over to would-be recipients one or two days before the tithes were to be distributed.
The minister has also instructed provincial offices of Religious Affairs Ministry to provide information for the people on the correct mechanism for distributing the alms.
He said that alms and tithes should be channeled through government or private alms bodies.
On the occasion Police Chief General Sutanto reported to the president that his side was now investigating philanthropist Soikhon and three of his brothers.
They provided the alms without proper arrangement that caused 21 people dead and 13 others injured after they were trampled on during the stampede.
Twenty-one women were killed and dozens of others injured in a stampede in the remote East Java district of Pasuruan on Monday as crowds rushed to receive a cash gift of Rp30,000 from Soikhon.
The Indonesian police chief also called on the people to channel zakat through alms bodies.
The president instructed that police should not hesitate to take the necessary measures to put in order the crowds if there was alms distribution so that an incident such as in Pasuraun would not be repeated.
The police chief also reported that such an incident had taken place for four times since 2003. In 2003, four people died when they were trampled on during a donation distribution in Pejaten South Jakarta.
"If the incident claimed lives it must be investigated. Sanction must be taken against those who are guilty so that such an incident would not recur," the president told a cabinet minister's meeting here on Tuesday.
Before opening a cabinet meeting the president asked Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni to explain the incident and steps that had been taken with regard to the tragedy.
The religious affairs minister said that the distribution of zakat (obligatory alms) which involved a large number of people such as the one in Pasuruan was not allowed without a well-planned arrangement.
He said that coupons should have been handed over to would-be recipients one or two days before the tithes were to be distributed.
The minister has also instructed provincial offices of Religious Affairs Ministry to provide information for the people on the correct mechanism for distributing the alms.
He said that alms and tithes should be channeled through government or private alms bodies.
On the occasion Police Chief General Sutanto reported to the president that his side was now investigating philanthropist Soikhon and three of his brothers.
They provided the alms without proper arrangement that caused 21 people dead and 13 others injured after they were trampled on during the stampede.
Twenty-one women were killed and dozens of others injured in a stampede in the remote East Java district of Pasuruan on Monday as crowds rushed to receive a cash gift of Rp30,000 from Soikhon.
The Indonesian police chief also called on the people to channel zakat through alms bodies.
The president instructed that police should not hesitate to take the necessary measures to put in order the crowds if there was alms distribution so that an incident such as in Pasuraun would not be repeated.
The police chief also reported that such an incident had taken place for four times since 2003. In 2003, four people died when they were trampled on during a donation distribution in Pejaten South Jakarta.
