AII said the ruling could bring fresh hope for the families of the Kanjuruhan stampede victims who had demanded accountability for the tragedy, and that it could end the culture of impunity among law enforcement agencies.
ights group Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) lauded on Thursday the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn the acquittal of two policemen accused of negligence that led to the Kanjuruhan deadly stampede that caused the death of 135 soccer supporters in East Java.
AII said the ruling could bring fresh hope for the families of the Kanjuruhan stampede victims who have demanded accountability for the tragedy, and that it could end the culture of impunity among law enforcement agencies.
"Accountability should not only be sought for those on the field by also for leaders at the top echelons [of the law enforcement agencies," AII deputy director Wirya Adiwena said in a statement.
The Kanjuruhan stampede in Malang, East Java, last October killed 135 people, including more than 40 children, after police fired tear gas into packed stands following a 3-2 defeat for Arema FC by its fierce rival Persebaya Surabaya.
Victims' relatives had voiced despair and broke down in tears after an East Java court ruled in March to let the two Malang officers walk free.
In a ruling issued this week, the Supreme Court overturned the acquittal of the two policemen and sentenced them to prison.
Court documents shared with AFP said the pair, Bambang Sidik Achmadi, 48, and Wahyu Setyo Pranoto, 35, had been found guilty on Wednesday of negligence causing death and injury.
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