Election campaign leaves Bung Karno Stadium a mess

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

Yasidi would not say whether political parties would be allowed to use the stadium for campaigns ahead of the presidential election.

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."