Indonesian Heavy Metal Concert Death Toll Rises To 11, Three Policemen Questioned

Yuli Tri Suwarni of The Jakarta Post reports that the death toll from Saturday's (February 9) stampede at a concert by the Indonesian melodic death/thrash metal band BESIDE (band photo, MySpace page) in Bandung rose to 11 after another fan died Monday night at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital.

The victim, identified as Entis Sutisna, 23, was a friend of Diki Zaelani Shidieq, who also died in the stampede. They worked together at the Gicitex textile factory in Leuwigajah, Cimahi.

Entis suffered extensive injuries in the stampede, including bruising to his torso and chest.

The stampede occurred during a concert at the Asia Africa Cultural Center (photos of the venue) on Jl. Braga in the West Java capital, held to launch BESIDE's latest album, "Against Ourselves".

Eleven people died when gatecrashers reportedly forced their way into the hall, which was already packed with paying customers.

Internal affairs officers from the West Java Police have questioned three officers allegedly involved in issuing the concert license — Bandung city police detectives chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Soni Sanjaya, Central Bandung police detectives chief Adj. Comr. Singgih and Sumur Bandung police chief Adj. Comr. Ogiyanto.

West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Susno Duadji said he would order an internal investigation to determine whether the officers violated procedures in issuing the license.

Police suspended the three officers on Feb. 11 so internal affairs officers could carry out a 10-day investigation in connection with the issuance of the license and security arrangements for the concert.

"They must be suspended from duty to accelerate the investigation, so there won't be any excuses for them not to come and answer questions. But I underline that the person who gave permission (for the license) is not necessarily in the wrong," Susno said in Bandung on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigations indicate concert organizers printed 4,000 tickets for the show, far more than the permitted 750 tickets.

"The ones who are absolutely wrong are the organizers, because they had bad intentions, such as printing a higher number of tickets. They also provided free alcoholic drinks," Susno said.

He said any concert that expected to draw a large crowd should be held in a large open space, not in a small hall.

Susno also denied Bandung city police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Suparsono would be questioned over the tragedy.

"That's ridiculous. The guilty party is the one who issued the permit," he said.

He said that if found guilty, the three police officers could face various sanctions, including demotion, delayed promotion and transfer.

Organizers of the BESIDE album-launch concert said Tuesday concert-goers were offered free beer in plastic glasses during the event.

One of the organizers, Asep Nandi, said he personally sold 1,000 tickets at Rp 10,000 each.

"We don't want to say that we're wrong, but this must serve as a valuable lesson for anyone who wants to organize a concert, including the city administration, to be more observant ...," said Nandi.

Watch TV coverage of the Indonesian concert stampede: