Election campaign leaves Bung Karno Stadium a mess
<p>Election campaign leaves Bung Karno Stadium a mess</p><p>Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta</p><p> The favorite location for mass events in the city -- the main
stadium of the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central
Jakarta -- has been severely damaged by political party
supporters. </p><p>The worst of the damage was caused by those bearing the angry-
bull symbol, as 20 percent of the 8,360-square-meter soccer field
was reportedly destroyed when the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) held its last outdoor rally there on Sunday.</p><p>Head of the complex's maintenance unit Mursito Subarjo, said
on Wednesday that PDI-P supporters destroyed the Zoyzia mattrella
lin grass -- which had been laid for soccer games -- by spraying
it with water and, later, trampling over the wet grass.</p><p>"We warned them not to use water and they agreed to comply,
but when the supporters sprayed themselves, the campaign
committee claimed that they could do nothing to stop them,"
Mursito told The Jakarta Post.</p><p>He added that the crowd had also damaged chairs, fences and
other stadium facilities. Although the trampled grass was
considered to be the most serious offense.</p><p>He claimed that PDI-P had caused more damage to the stadium
than other parties who had used the stadium, such as the United
Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).</p><p>Mursito said he had not yet calculated the cost of the damage.
Although, he cited that one square meter of the grass would cost
Rp 25,000 (about US$3) to replace.</p><p>However, before the campaign period, the complex's management
had asked each political party to sign a contract and pay a bond
of Rp 25 million -- which would be redeemable should no damage be
done to the stadium.</p><p>However, Mursito said that it would take at least one month to
return the stadium to its prior condition. Repair work would
begin after the campaign period ends on Thursday, he said.</p><p>"We hope that the damage isn't that bad, so we don't have to
replace the grass and can finish the work as soon as possible,"
he said.</p><p>The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) will use the
stadium in early June for qualifying matches for the World Cup,
providing breathing space for the complex's management to restore
the facility.</p><p>Director of the complex's management Yasidi Hambali told the
Post that the Jakarta Elections Commission (KPUD) paid Rp 18
million for six-hours use of the stadium -- the same rate as for
a sporting event, and much lower than the commercial rate of Rp
50 million.</p><p>Yasidi would not say whether political parties would be
allowed to use the stadium for campaigns ahead of the
presidential election.</p><p>Although he did say that if the cost of repairs outweighed the
total funds from bonds, "we won't allow them to use the stadium
anymore."</p>
stadium of the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central
Jakarta -- has been severely damaged by political party
supporters. </p><p>The worst of the damage was caused by those bearing the angry-
bull symbol, as 20 percent of the 8,360-square-meter soccer field
was reportedly destroyed when the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) held its last outdoor rally there on Sunday.</p><p>Head of the complex's maintenance unit Mursito Subarjo, said
on Wednesday that PDI-P supporters destroyed the Zoyzia mattrella
lin grass -- which had been laid for soccer games -- by spraying
it with water and, later, trampling over the wet grass.</p><p>"We warned them not to use water and they agreed to comply,
but when the supporters sprayed themselves, the campaign
committee claimed that they could do nothing to stop them,"
Mursito told The Jakarta Post.</p><p>He added that the crowd had also damaged chairs, fences and
other stadium facilities. Although the trampled grass was
considered to be the most serious offense.</p><p>He claimed that PDI-P had caused more damage to the stadium
than other parties who had used the stadium, such as the United
Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).</p><p>Mursito said he had not yet calculated the cost of the damage.
Although, he cited that one square meter of the grass would cost
Rp 25,000 (about US$3) to replace.</p><p>However, before the campaign period, the complex's management
had asked each political party to sign a contract and pay a bond
of Rp 25 million -- which would be redeemable should no damage be
done to the stadium.</p><p>However, Mursito said that it would take at least one month to
return the stadium to its prior condition. Repair work would
begin after the campaign period ends on Thursday, he said.</p><p>"We hope that the damage isn't that bad, so we don't have to
replace the grass and can finish the work as soon as possible,"
he said.</p><p>The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) will use the
stadium in early June for qualifying matches for the World Cup,
providing breathing space for the complex's management to restore
the facility.</p><p>Director of the complex's management Yasidi Hambali told the
Post that the Jakarta Elections Commission (KPUD) paid Rp 18
million for six-hours use of the stadium -- the same rate as for
a sporting event, and much lower than the commercial rate of Rp
50 million.</p><p>Yasidi would not say whether political parties would be
allowed to use the stadium for campaigns ahead of the
presidential election.</p><p>Although he did say that if the cost of repairs outweighed the
total funds from bonds, "we won't allow them to use the stadium
anymore."</p>