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).