Hard-line tactics advocated for soccer hooligans<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A criminologist has faulted the authorities for
\nbeing too soft in handling East Java soccer hooligans, accused of
\nmisdemeanors ranging from stealing food to muggings.<\/p>\n
Adrianus Meliala of the University of Indonesia's School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences told The Jakarta Post Saturday that
\npolice and military officers should have been tougher to deter
\nthem from repeating the offenses.<\/p>\n
Thousands of East Java soccer fans arrived last week for the
\nNational Soccer League championship. Some of the fans are bonek,
\nslang for penniless people who use their wiles to get by.<\/p>\n
Adrianus feared the hooligans would construe the leniency as a
\ntacit endorsement of their actions.<\/p>\n
They have vandalized public facilities, including the trains
\nwhich transported them, and harassed many people. About 630
\nhooligans were caught on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"These penniless hooligans will surely do the same thing again
\nnext time because they believe there will be no sanctions for
\ntheir actions,\" Adrianus said.<\/p>\n
They believe that regardless of the damages they have caused,
\nthey will still be accommodated, fed and transported back to
\ntheir hometowns free of charge, he said.<\/p>\n
\"There also is an indication the fans extorted and robbed
\nJakarta residents to live up to the label given them by the
\npublic as the \"daring\" ones,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, the less money they have in their pockets, the
\nbraver they will be,\" Adrianus said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said
\nyesterday the police had officially arrested at least 10 of the
\nhooligans for alleged involvement in robberies and extortion.<\/p>\n
\"It's not easy to nail all involved in crimes here because
\nmost of the victims, especially the vendors whose food was stolen
\nby the fans, hesitated to report the cases,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The victims might be thinking that it would be very difficult
\nto recognize the suspects amongst hundreds of strange faces, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The police began sending soccer fans back to Surabaya by sea
\nand land transportation on Saturday in a bid to help ease the
\nproblems, he said. About 700 were sent back in a naval ship and
\nbuses.<\/p>\n
Despite this action, East Java soccer fans continue to flood
\nthe city to watch the final between Bandung Raya and Persebaya
\nSurabaya today. Another 940 were netted on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
Those in detention are accommodated at several social welfare
\nbuildings, Aritonang said. (cst\/12)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hard-line-tactics-advocated-for-soccer-hooligans-1447893297",
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