The 2011 congress of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) was held at Hotel Sultan in Jakarta on May 20 amid tight security.

The event, which the PSSI estimates cost Rp 2 billion (US$234,000), is an effort to avoid the threat of suspension by world soccer governing body FIFA.

Inside the hotel’s Golden Ballroom, delegates argued over FIFA’s ban on George Toisutta and Arifin Panigoro from running for the post of PSSI chair, later leading to deadlock. Outside, television trucks parked neatly in the hotel parking lot providing continuous live updates.

Earlier in the morning, some peaceful protests were staged by soccer fans.

Only television journalists were allowed access to cover the whole congress inside the Golden Ballroom.
Print, online and radio journalists were only permitted to cover the event from a media center provided for journalists, a large off-white air-conditioned tent located across from the ballroom.

“The congress is so ridiculous. Journalists can cover the election of a new speaker of the House of Representative, yet here we cannot go inside to see the process of the election of the new PSSI chair,” Charles Lobo from the West Papuan daily Media Papua said.

He said he was disappointed because he has come all the way from Papua to cover the event. “I arrived here two days ago hoping to cover the event since PSSI representatives from Papua are here,” he said.

Charles said it was unfair that television reporters were accorded better access.

Agus Baharudin, a journalist from sports news portal mediaolahraga.com said he understood why the event organizers decided to limit the number of journalists covering the congress.

“The situation [in the ballroom] is heated already. If journalists were allowed inside, [delegates] could be provoked and the situation would get worse. I feel it is better that journalists are positioned at the media center,” he said.

Agus added that the media center was spacious and could accommodate the needs of all journalists.

“There are televisions where we can follow the congress live and there is also the food,” he gushed.

As the congress came into session, journalists sat on the floor, on chairs and even on tables to follow events on a television screen.

During the session, PSSI representatives had their chance to express their opinions, while reporters in the media center mocked their accents.

“They are so funny and entertaining,” Charles said.

There was a heavy security presence at the hotel, in particular surrounding the ballroom.

Three security desks were set up to screen congress participants entering the ballroom, with each desk manned by dozens of private security guards.

Jakarta Police officers and an anti-riot vehicle were stationed in a parking lot next to the entrance to the ballroom.

Police operation head Jarno said 1,137 officers had been deployed to provide security at the congress. “Three hundred personnel are inside the ballroom while the rest are patrolling the hotel yard, outer areas and in front of the PSSI office,” he said. (fem)

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