Damage caused by riots only slight, official says

JAKARTA (JP): The riots that marred the Indonesian soccer league championship final between Persib Bandung and Petrokimia Putra on Sunday are expected to cost the organizers a considerable sum, but an official says the damage caused was tolerable.

The director of Senayan's management board, Saptodarsono, said yesterday that the board will have to repair Senayan stadium after thousands of fanatic supporters broke down the safety fence surrounding the pitch.

The 1,200-meter fence was demolished when thousands of Persib supporters tried to rush onto the pitch for a victory celebration.

Saptodarsono refused to disclose the total financial losses, saying that both the board and the organizers are still in the process of calculation.

"The rampage did not affect the construction of the stadium, except for slight damages to several buildings and parks," Saptodarsono said.

More than 100,000 people turned out to watch the frenetic final match, for which the organizers deployed 2,000 security officers to maintain order.

Supporters of both soccer teams were involved in physical flare-ups outside the stadium, using stones and sticks to beat each other. A number of windows in several buildings owned by the management board were smashed during the brawls.

Security officials claimed that some 20 people, including two officers, were injured during the riot. A 60-year-old Persib' fan, Sutaryono, died of a heart attack prior to the match.

The final match, won by Persib 1-0, was also marred by a fire which razed the balcony above gate two. Six fire engines were deployed to extinguish the fire.

"It was an accident. A negligent spectator might have dropped a cigarette butt onto a heap of dry waste from the balcony," Saptodarsono said.

Reconstruction will start as soon as possible, because, he said, "we have to complete the project by Aug. 20." The stadium has been named the closing ceremony venue for the 1995 national youth march. (amd)