Anarchy on Jl. Sudirman

While battling the rush-hour traffic on a normal day in Jakarta is not exactly pleasurable, few motorists would have anticipated the mayhem and violence that greeted them opposite the Senayan sports complex on Oct. 4 in the evening. As for myself, although my wristwatch was stolen, I now believe that, in hindsight, I was perhaps one of the lucky ones. I had left my office -- which is located in Citibank Plaza on Jl. Sudirman at around 6 p.m. and immediately found myself in a traffic jam amid rampaging football supporters.

Many of these hooligans, rocks in hand, were busy smashing car windows and relieving motorists and pedestrians of their belongings. Rather astonishingly considering the reputation of these hooligans, there were no police to be seen anywhere. Although I was on a motorcycle, I was not in a position to turn back as there were simply too many people. I therefore intended to take the first left turn just past the British Council to get away from the trouble. Unfortunately for me, just before the turning, some of the football supporters spotted me and attempted to topple me from my motorcycle, presumably to rob me. Luckily, I was able to react quickly and although one of them managed to reach out and rip the wristwatch off my wrist, I was able to maintain my balance and get away. As the motivation for these so- called football supporters is simply to commit criminal acts and to terrorize Jakarta residents, why are such football competitions allowed to take place in the first place? Most absurd of all, is how the match organizers could arrange the match so that it ends at exactly the same time that office workers are leaving their offices. Is it too much to ask to feel safe in this city?

MARTIN JENKINS

Jakarta