Remembering The Tragedy Erik Setiawan: Victims Of Eternal Rivality Bonek And Aremania

The graves of Erik Setiawan, a member of the Bonek fans who died after clashing against Aremania in Gresik, East Java on March 7, 2013. (Twitter/@bonekunesa1927)

JAKARTA - The presence of supporters in Indonesian football is full of dynamics. On the one hand, they can be like 'immun' for their favorite club. On the other hand, blind fanaticism often tarnishes Indonesian football with black spots.

They are willing to do anything to support their favorite club. Violence moreover. The tragedy of the death of Erik Setiawan, for example. The 17-year-old man became a victim of the eternal rivalry of the Bonek and Aremania (Arema FC) supporters.

No one denies that football can match unity and friendship. Especially if withdrawn from the past. The influence of football is like a tool of struggle. That is, football is not just a sport, but a social identity for all its supporters.

Various groups of supporters also emerged. Nuansa tested positive for his establishment. Football clubs need an immune injection of the 12th player in the field. However, bad also accompanies the presence of the fans. His name is blind fanism.

This fantasy often produces rivalry. This narrative is clearly seen in the rivalry between the Supporters of Persebaya Bonek and Arema Malang (now: Arema FC) groups with Aremania. The blind fantasy often asks for forgiveness. Erik Setiawan's tragedy of death on March 7, 2013, for example. The deep-rooted hostility between the two groups of supporters became the origin.

Bonek Mania from Gresik did not expect his intention to watch the match between Arema Indonesia (Now: Arema FC) and Persegres Gresik to the Petrokimia Gresik Stadium to end in death. He also wore Bonek Mania's attributes as an identity. The idea was in fact quite bad. Erik Setiawan became the means of removing Aremania's entourage who happened to come in 17 buses.

Hundreds of Aremania chased Erik and three other Bonek Manias. They passed directly at the exit of the Bunder toll road, Gresik. Bonek Mania's condition was critical and was rushed to the nearest hospital.

However, in the treatment, Erik Setiawan had to die. The rest must run an intensive virgin. In fact, the rivalry between Bonek and Aremania is nothing more than a matter of prestige. Both want to win the number one position in East Java.

As for the side causes, there was a difference in the portion of news in the mass media at that time, where news about football clubs and supporters from Surabaya was more than clubs and football supporters from Malang. In addition, there is also a sense of prestige.

Because the status of the number one and number two regions in East Java. Then jealous and jealous because of the recognition and assumption of the general public that clubs from Surabaya are greater than clubs from Malang. It doesn't stop there, another cause is a sense of primordialism," explained Galuh Saputro in the Journal of Moral Studies and Citizenship Volume 1 No. 4 entitled Bonek Court: About Conflict Between Bonek and Aremania (2016).

News related to the beating and death of Erik Setiawan spread among supporters. In fact, to Bonek who was outside Surabaya. Like a fire, Bonek caught fire. They also want to perpetuate revenge. Moreover, recently Aremania often threw Bonek's vehicle when they visited Malang.

On the same day, Bonek chose to take to the streets. They are targeting Aremania who passes the toll road. Bonek surrounded the toll roads, especially at KM 5 and 6. Not only that, Bonek also conducted a search of N plate vehicles which incidentally marked vehicles from Malang.

The revenge action was tried to be blocked by the police. The police had closed access to toll roads. The power of attorney then forbade all vehicles to cross the Mojokerto and Malang toll roads. The riots due to the actions of bonek spread everywhere.

Bonek doesn't just target Aremania. Their target is increasing. The police became Bonek's new sworn enemy. The resistance against the police was carried out because the police were considered too repressive towards them. Especially with endless tear gas shots. Losses for the incident were quite large. Many public facilities were damaged. Mainly the signs and toll road barriers.

The Bonek and Aremania fans again claimed victims. Eric Setiawan died as a result of wearing Bonek's attributes wrong while watching the Arema Indonesia versus Gresik Persegres match in Gresik, Thursday two weeks ago. Eric is suspected of being the victim of the wrong target of Aremania's mass brutality."

This incident sparked Bonek's anger. They confronted Aremania when they were about to return to Malang. As a result, activities on the Mojokerto-Malang toll road were totally jammed until Friday morning two weeks ago. Hundreds of police officers were struggling to prevent the brutal actions of Bonek members," said Agita Sukma Listiyanti and Kukuh S. Wibowo in his article in Tempo Magazine entitledasa Bola in Surabaya (2013).