WBC pledges $5,000 donation to Indonesian boxers' bereaved<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following the six-month provisional ban it imposed on Indonesia,
\nthe World Boxing Council (WBC) has now pledged a US$5,000
\ndonation to the families of dead boxers as an expression of the
\ncouncil's concerns about the development of boxing in the
\ncountry, a WBC representative said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian boxers Bayu Young Iray, Dipo Saloko, John Namtilu,
\nMoh. Alfaridzi and Donny Maramis all died in the ring over the
\npast 18 months. Their families will each receive US$1,000.<\/p>\n
The six month ban from international tournaments run under the
\nauspices of the WBC and OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing
\nFederation), and the financial donations, were both announced at
\nthe WBC's convention in Pattaya, Thailand, last week.<\/p>\n
"Before the convention began I had lobbied for an aid pledge
\nfor Indonesia," said Chandru G. Lalwani, WBC envoy to Indonesia,
\nwho also acted as the country's spokesman at the Pattaya meeting.<\/p>\n
"This is the WBC's way of lightening the burden on the
\nbereaved families," Chandru told The Jakarta Post here on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
"We (WBC) don't want to be labeled as a self-righteous body in
\nimposing the bans. The donations are a testament to our true
\nconcerns for boxing's development," he said.<\/p>\n
The donations will not be disbursed immediately, pending the
\nreinstatement of a state commission called BPPOPI, the
\nProfessional Sports Supervising and Controlling Body.<\/p>\n
Apart from the donations, in another move designed to help
\nrescue pro-boxing in Indonesia from its current plight, the WBC
\nhas pledged to help the government organize a series of training
\ncourses for medical attendants, ring officials and coaches.<\/p>\n
"The WBC is ready to send over a number of skilled officials.
\nWe are just waiting for the government's plans for the projects,"
\nChandru said after meeting with a number of government officials
\nto discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the
\nNational Sports Council (KONI). But KTI (Indonesian Boxing
\nCommittee) and ATI, two rival bodies whose existence is now under
\nthreat, were not represented in the discussions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a government official said the BPPOPI would be
\nreestablished early next year.<\/p>\n
"We are currently trying to promote the plan. We still need
\ntime to implement it," Toho Cholic Mutohir, the general director
\nof sports affairs at the National Education Ministry, said in a
\nseparate interview.<\/p>\n
A similar body actually did exist before, under the name of
\nBAPOPI. But it did not function effectively, and the KTI was
\naccused of interfering in its operations.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, boxing contests appeared to be loosely
\ncontrolled, testified to by the high number of fatalities among
\nboxers.<\/p>\n
However, the KTI presented a dubious account of the situation
\nat the WBC convention, in an apparent attempt to wash its hands
\nof responsibility.<\/p>\n
"Its credibility has now been questioned. People don't seem to
\ntrust it anymore. We have to act quickly. Something must be
\ndone," Toho said.<\/p>\n
"They (WBC) want a state commission which is legitimate and
\nreliable to handle pro-boxing activities in Indonesia, with the
\nrisk of death being eliminated," he said.<\/p>\n
With the body aiming to become the only one with the authority
\nto issue boxing licenses, KTI and ATI will certainly be reduced
\nto a more limited role.<\/p>",
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