Police detain 630 soccer fans from Surabaya
JAKARTA (JP): City Police were holding about 630 soccer fans from Surabaya, East Java, for causing trouble, ranging from robbery and extortion to stealing food, a City Police official said.
The soccer hooligans, locally called bonek, a name given to people who go to Jakarta to watch soccer matches even though they do not have money, were arrested in Jatinegara, Senen and Gambir railway stations and the Senayan stadium.
City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said he was very angry during his inspection of the 630 hooligans at City Police Headquarters.
Hamami accused them of creating additional problems for the capital city.
"You're lousy people. You just came here to create trouble," Hamami said.
The bonek came from Surabaya mostly by train, with many not paying for the train tickets, to watch their team compete in the semifinal and final rounds of the National Soccer League game, which starts today.
Hamami said police were ready to secure the game and would not let bonek create trouble during their stay in the city.
"Police will not tolerate any bonek who do wrongdoing in the city. Stern measures will be taken against those who are found guilty," Hamami said.
Hamami expressed concern over the bonek's determination to see the games without sufficient preparation.
"Many of them did not bring enough money to support their stay in Jakarta," he said.
Police said 169 of the held bonek only brought about Rp 20,000 (US$7.80), 121 had Rp 10,000, and 120 had Rp 25,000.
Sutiyoso
Greater Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso also said Wednesday night that he would take action against soccer fans who tried to cause trouble in the city.
"I don't know whether they're bonek or not. If they cause trouble, I'll catch them, load them onto trucks and send them back to Surabaya," Sutiyoso said after attending a meeting with Jakarta journalists and chief editors at Hotel Omni Batavia, in West Jakarta.
He said the military had provided enough soldiers to handle the hooligans.
National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar also expressed concern that East Java supporters might demolish the facilities, which were being prepared for the 19th SEA Games from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.
"We hope the soccer fans won't be too emotional and destroy the SEA Games facilities around the Senayan Main Stadium. We are facing a lack of funds. If the facilities are destroyed, we don't have any more money to repair them," he said.
"Vandalism would also tarnish Indonesia's image as the SEA Games host," he said.
Speaking in Sentul, West Java, during a visit to the volleyball training center, Wismoyo said vandalism by fans was not just the Indonesian Soccer Association's problem.
"It becomes everyone's problem. The provincial administration, Jakarta City Police and military officers will have to cooperate in handling the city's security during the final game," he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Volleyball Association chairwoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana agreed with Wismoyo's statement.
"It's OK to be fanatic of a club, but they should not disturb security. The SEA Games are only three months away. We hope supporters won't create a bad image of our beloved country," said President Soeharto's daughter.
Hamami said those who did not have identification or sufficient money would be sent back to Surabaya.
At least 50 people were unable to present ID cards yesterday, while some others only brought reference letters from their villages, he said.
"We are still arranging a plan of action with the City Administration. For the time being, these people will stay here," he said.
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that police would be responsible for the bonek's meals during their stay at a field of the headquarters. Some of them were temporarily sent to a number places, including the former woman rehabilitation center in Cawang and Pamardi Siwi in Cawang, both in East Jakarta.
Aritonang said many people complained about the bonek's brutality.
A group of bonek, for example, forced a city resident, Enas P. Hidayat, who was jogging near the baseball field at Senayan yesterday morning, to give up Rp 100,000 and an ATM card.
Another person, Sri Utami, was forced to give up an eight-gram gold necklace to them on Jl. Sudirman, he added.
"So far, no one has been arrested because it hasn't been easy for victims to identify those who robbed them among the hundreds of bonek, many of whom slept at Senayan for two days," Aritonang said.
He said police would continue to investigate the reports and would encourage other victims to report to police. (jun/cst/yan)