Military guards arrival of more E. Java soccer fans
JAKARTA (JP): More and more East Java soccer fans, a part of whom were netted on Thursday for causing trouble, ranging from extortion to stealing food, arrived yesterday to watch this weekend's National Soccer League tournament finals.
Over 2,000 fans came by train and were dropped off at the Senen Railway Station in Central Jakarta. Their arrival was organized by 100 soldiers from East Java Military Command.
Surabaya Military District Commander Lt. Col. Kadri Kusuma, who accompanied the fans during the journey, said he guaranteed the fans would not cause trouble.
"None of them will cause trouble. They're all in our hands," Kadri said yesterday.
"If both Mitra Surabaya and Persebaya lose, we will take them home tonight by train. But if one or both of them win, we'd like to make a request to set up tents at the Senayan Stadium complex for them to sleep," he said.
Bandung Raya took 1-0 lead against Mitra Surabaya at yesterday's match which was stopped due to tear gas explosion, while Persebaya won 3-2 against PSM.
The soccer fans arrived at the Senen station early yesterday on the Gaya Baru Utara and Gaya Baru Selatan economy-class trains.
Several windows of the Gaya Baru Utara train were damaged when the fans were involved in stone throwing with residents of Semarang and Pekalongan, Central Java. The stone throwing was in apparent retaliation for stone throwing initiated by Surabaya fans that have passed through the areas in recent years for similar games.
Police said the fans were transported on 11 police trucks from the station to City Police Headquarters.
City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata also asked them to behave politely. "Don't destroy anything. If your teams win, celebrate in an orderly fashion, but if they lose, be fair and accept it."
The fans spontaneously responded to Hamami's remark by saying, "We won't lose, sir."
'Bonek'
About 630 Surabaya soccer fans were netted on Thursday for causing trouble, including theft of food from local vendors and extortion.
The fans are called 'bonek' by locals, a name given to people who go to Jakarta to watch soccer matches even though they do not have enough money.
At least 235 were temporarily detained at Pamardi Siwi Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Center in Cawang, East Jakarta, and another 259 at a building owned by the West Jakarta social services office. The rest were released because they brought enough money with them or had relatives in the city who could accommodate them.
The police kitchen at the headquarters, which was used to supply meals for police officers during the national election and campaign period, served around 1,000 meals a day for both police officers and the netted bonek.
A police source said out of the 630 'bonek', seven were arrested Thursday for alleged involvement in two robbery cases and three others were arrested yesterday for similar cases, which took place near the Senayan Stadium.
It was believed the seven men were part of 20 people who robbed Selvi and Sri Utami on Thursday morning and made away with an eight-gram gold necklace and some cash, he said.
It was believed the three other men arrested yesterday, identified as Roy Darmawan, 20, Ashari, 17, and Abdul Malik, 20, extorted Rp 350,000 (US$137) from people, he said.
Meanwhile, the brutal actions of the hooligans drew responses from the governor and councilors yesterday.
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the actions further worsened the achievements of local soccer teams, which have already been poor.
"Be honest. We don't need lousy fans, who hit people and destroy things when their team loses," Surjadi said after attending the installation of the City Council's new speaker yesterday.
He said all Indonesians were welcome to come to the city.
"But don't destroy anything. Security officers have been prepared to anticipate any unexpected events and to prevent damage by irresponsible people," Surjadi said.
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso said, "Currently, we're still looking for trucks to send those fans back home."
Chairman of the United Development Party, Achmad Suaidy, warned supporters not to burden Jakarta and demanded those who caused damage to be punished according to the law without exception. (07/ste/jun/cst)