Bully for them: Time we kicked up a fuss about 'bonek'
The behavior now known as "football hooliganism" originated in England in the early 13th century, when it is believed that communal disputes were dealt with by two large groups of men trying to get the ball to kick it against a designated church door.
Nowadays, racial slurs and violence sometimes resulting in serious injuries and/or death (note the Heysel Stadium tragedy in which 39 Juventus fans died 20 years ago) are prevalent in matches all over the world. In other European countries, hooligan groups emerged that, while accused of mimicking the British fans, had distinct styles all their own.
How about supporters on these shores, far from Europe?
Two legislators once remarked that Indonesian football (or soccer to you Americanized lot) had reached an all-time low: it had become a violent sport with no real achievements to speak of. The English have their hooligans, we have our very own "bonek", short for bondo nekat, Javanese for gutsy.
Originally bonek was a name reserved for the notoriously raucous supporters from East Java, who travel to see their heroes fight for glory in away games with little or no money at all. But nowadays it seems to apply to any rowdy fan (although East Javanese supporters still hold the crown as the rowdiest of them all).
Although relatively tamer than their English counterparts, bonek are still scary nonetheless. They trash places, they loot, they fight. In general, they kick up a ruckus wherever they go, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. People know it's a good idea to stay away from a stadium and its surrounding area when a game is on.
This year alone, there have been disturbances in Makassar, as well as Madiun and Gresik, both, interestingly, in East Java, with the latter incident descending into running battles between police and debris-throwing hooligans on the streets.
During the final of the Indonesian league several years ago, a mob of supporters from Sulawesi literally stopped traffic near Senayan, demanding money and lodgings. One of them, apparently considered the top dog, was interviewed by a TV station. He insisted that food and lodgings be provided for his people from his beloved team and its management.
Why the demand? He claimed that the team was responsible for their presence in Jakarta. Oh dear. Luckily it was near election time so a political party offered to pick up the tab and accommodate their needs until it was time to go home.
Several bonek once entered my old office complex in Sudirman with chunks of wood after a match. The building security fortunately managed to squire them off without any considerable destruction to person or property.
Sometimes you cannot avoid them even if you try. After an especially chaotic match, the police put the offending bonek on a train -- already prepared for such incidents -- back to their hometown. During a short stop in the small city of Tegal, the hooligans raided the station. Windows were shattered, everything else was looted.
Admittedly, it's quite hard to distinguish a die-hard fan from the hooligans. A friend and I once were trapped in traffic, gripped by fear, when hordes of Persija fans flooded the streets in their matching jerseys and flags. I started hiding my mobile phone and cash, just in case. Luckily they were just people walking home from a match.
My friend, an avid fan, thinks that law enforcement concerning hooliganism here is still very weak. Aside from guarding the surrounding areas before, during and after the match, prevention means preventing dangerous individuals (often repeat offenders) from frequenting the matches. And giving out a box lunch to the bonek to avoid looting is really not helping the case. It is merely setting a precedent for others.
The United Kingdom, arguably a nation with the most severe problem on this issue, has taken the lead in the development of control measures, replete with CCTV, restraining orders, passport control, undercover operations and hooligan hotlines.
Surely our police force, working with sociologists and criminologists, can find ways more suited for our very own bonek? Here's hoping for a better, safer match!
-- Krabbe K. Piting