One dies in aid distribution stampede<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
A woman was killed and 11 other people injured during a stampede
\nas thousands of people struggled for free rice in Bandung, West
\nJava on Sunday, officials and residents said.<\/p>\n
Enah Suhaenah, 55, died in Immanuel Hospital on Jl. Kopo,
\nwhere she was being treated after she either fell or passed out
\nin the stampede 30 minutes earlier.<\/p>\n
More than two thousand needy had crowded an arts building on
\nJl. Peta to queue for 20 kilograms of free rice per family,
\ndistributed by the Indonesian Holy Buddha (BSI) Foundation.<\/p>\n
The distribution of the 5,400 packages started at around 8
\na.m. but many poor people had gathered there earlier.<\/p>\n
It appears the stampede was caused after the distribution
\ncommittee decided to temporarily halt disbursing the aid and
\nclose the building's gate because of the unruly crowd.<\/p>\n
Johni, a distribution committee member, was quoted by Antara
\nas saying that the victim died after collapsing in the crowd soon
\nafter the gate was closed.<\/p>\n
Johni said Enah had received an aid package prior to her
\ndeath.<\/p>\n
The committee promised to cover the medical and burial costs
\nof Enah and the wounded victims, all of whom suffered only minor
\ninjuries, Johni said.<\/p>\n
Bojongloa Kaler subdistrict police chief Adj. Comr. Nouval
\nsaid his office would not summon committee members over the
\naccident as the program was carried out in cooperation with the
\nlocal military.<\/p>\n
"We will only provide security. But it's a genuine accident.
\nRegarding who's to blame, we will coordinate with the district
\nmilitary office," he said.<\/p>\n
The committee said it had given coupons to poor families
\nconsidered to be entitled to the charity to allow for the
\npeaceful distribution of the aid.<\/p>\n
Before the distribution started, noted Muslim preacher
\nAbdullah Gymnastiar gave a speech to the crowd. West Java
\nGovernor Danny Setiawan and Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada were
\npresent.<\/p>\n
The Buddhist organization, in cooperation with the military,
\nplanned to distribute 80 tons of free rice for 6,000 poor people
\nin the two subdistricts of Astanaanyar and Ciparay, Southern
\nBandung. Similar distributions are also planned in several areas
\nacross West Java.<\/p>\n
The death of Enah came about a week after a similar stampede
\non Nov. 7 left four people dead and dozens of others injured
\nduring the distribution of alms by a Muslim cleric on Jl. Pasar
\nMinggu, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The casualties were all women -- Fatimah, 60, Rodiah, 50,
\nHalimah, 45, and Sarmana, 55.<\/p>\n
The incident took place in the front yard of the home of
\nMuslim cleric Habib Ismet al Habsyi, who has distributed alms
\nannually for more than 20 years during the second week of
\nRamadhan.<\/p>\n
The stampede began when a one-meter-tall iron barrier dividing
\nthe queues collapsed on the crowd.<\/p>\n
In the ensuing chaos, many needy trampled over others in their
\nscramble for alms packages.<\/p>\n
No policemen were posted at Ismet's house to secure the event,
\nas the organizer had failed to inform the police about it, local
\npolice officers said.<\/p>\n
Police in Pasar Minggu had questioned several witnesses about
\nthe incident, including the two who were distributing the alms,
\nUsup and Intan.<\/p>",
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