Makassar soccer fans run amok in Surabaya

Makassar soccer fans run amok in Surabaya

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Hundreds of supporters of the PSM Ujungpandang (Makassar)
soccer team ran amok in Surabaya's Tanjung Perak Port on
Wednesday, creating panic among visitors and vendors.

Many were injured in the incident, including at least two
local vendors, who were rushed to a nearby hospital with serious
head injuries.

Tanjung Perak Police deputy chief Adj. Comr. Kusdiantoro said
that the soccer hooligans were on board the ferry KM Kambuna,
which was making a scheduled stop-over at Tanjung Perak at noon.

"Seconds after the ship docked hundreds of people dashed from
the ship. They jumped down from the ship and started yelling and
throwing things at the people in the port area," the officer
said.

The ship was carrying some 2,000 passengers, most of whom were
the supporters of PSM Makassar which will play PSMS Medan in a
competition today in Jakarta.

Using sticks and stones, the mob then pelted port visitors and
other passengers at the Gapura Surya terminal, where passengers
of vessels arriving from and heading to Java were waiting for
their ships.

The terminal windows were also smashed by the Makassar soccer
supporters.

"Some of the attackers used arrows. They ransacked the
passengers and vendors," Kusdiantoro said.

Two vendors received head injuries and were admitted to
Pelabuhana Hospital while dozens of others suffered bruises.

Some 100 police officers were deployed to secure the area, but
no arrests were made. "It was very chaotic and emotional. We just
blocked the area to prevent them from destroying other areas of
the port."

In a bid to control the situation, the police and the port
authorities instructed the KM Kambuna to depart for Jakarta two
hours earlier than scheduled. "The ship departed for Jakarta at 2
p.m," Kusdiantoro said, adding that the port authorities had yet
to calculate the financial cost of the vandalism.

Meanwhile, on the same day about 1,000 fans of the Persebaya
Surabaya soccer team also departed for Jakarta on Wednesday
afternoon ahead of their match today against Jakarta Persija
aboard the Gaya Baru Utara and Gaya Baru Selatan trains.

Fans of the Surabaya soccer team are notorious for their
hooliganism as well. Many of them have, in the past followed the
team to various locales and told people to call them Bonek or
Bondo Nekat, (types of soccer hooligans).