Anarchy on Jl. Sudirman

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