One dies in aid distribution stampede

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.