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