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Persija soccer fans cause nightmare conditions
Anticipating an epic match between local club Persija and Bandung-based Persib, about 35,000 supporters flocked to Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday causing congestion in the surrounding areas
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nticipating an epic match between local club Persija and Bandung-based Persib, about 35,000 supporters flocked to Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday causing congestion in the surrounding areas.
Lukita, who passed the stadium on a motorcycle, said she experienced traffic jams before the game had started.
“I saw many members of Jakmania [Persija’s fan club] on buses, trucks and motorcycles when I passed the sports complex at 4 p.m,” Lukita said.
She added that many of the supporters were riding on top of buses.
Supporters of Persija are known for their fanatical support for their club.
Before every home match thousands of orange-clad supporters will make the trip to the stadium on cars, public buses or by any means possible.
The congestion is one of the lesser disturbances experienced by the public. On several previous occasions there have been reports of fans vandalizing public property.
On the way to Thursday’s match, which ended in a 2-all draw, Digi Ramadhan, a fan who attended the match, said he saw people hiding sharp weapons such as samurai swords and sickles under the seats of the minibus.
He and his friends also witnessed dozens of Persija supporters swarm a pair of Persib supporters in their car in front of the stadium.
“The driver was bleeding,” Haki Jayadirana, 16, said, adding that he saw the police take two badly-injured Persib supporters away from the crowd, who had set the two men’s shirts alight.
Police, however, did not report any incidents other than traffic problems.
Jakarta police detained three fans who brought sharp weapons to the stadium and ticketed 272 public buses and cars overloaded with dozens of Jakmania.
Second Brig. Fajar Andoyo from the police’s Traffic Management Center said vehicles could only move as fast as 20 kilometers per hour heading to Senayan from Semanggi as of Thursday night.
He said that his office had previously informed road users about the match and told them to avoid the stadium area.
“But we don’t suggest alternative routes. Its up to them [to choose a route],” he said.
Danang Ismartani, coordinator of the Jakmania, said it was difficult to avoid the traffic jam during the game given the fact to the already-crowded traffic situation.
“The congestion occurs because the end of the game coincides with peak hour,” Danang said.
On the unruly behavior of the fans, he said that Jakmania coordinators in each area of the city discouraged bringing weapons.
“We apply strict rules to our members so they will not violate traffic regulations. We will hand members over to the police if they break the law,” he said.
He admitted there some members were involved in fighting and were currently being processed at the Jakarta Police and Cilandak sub-precinct police office.
“But in most cases, those involved were not our members,” he said, disclaiming 38 supporters who were arrested for carrying weapons and drugs to a match on March 16.
Weapons of mass destruction: Persija Jakarta soccer team supporters, called The Jakmania, surround a pile of items confiscated from them by police, including batons, bamboo sticks, sickles and bicycle chains attached to belts. The fans were on their way to watch a game between Persija and Persib of Bandung, at Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on Thursday. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama
