Council likely to demand nightspots close one month<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City councillors are likely to recommend the
\nclosing of several entertainment centers and nightspots in the
\ncapital during the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, a
\nsource at the council said on Monday.<\/p>\n
In their draft recommendation slated to be approved by the
\ncouncil and submitted to Governor Sutiyoso on Tuesday, the
\ncouncillors proposed the closure of certain massage parlors,
\ndiscotheques and nightclubs, said a source, who asked for
\nanonymity.<\/p>\n
But the councillors, he added, recommended similar places
\nlocated inside hotels be allowed to run their business as usual
\nduring Ramadhan, which will start next Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The councillors prepared the draft recommendation specifying
\nthe kind of nightspots that should be closed and those that can
\nremain open during the fasting month,\" the staffer added.<\/p>\n
No councilman could be reached for confirmation or comment.<\/p>\n
The content of the draft recommendation is different from the
\nexisting 1999 City Bylaw which allowed all nightspots to open
\nafter Ramadhan's tarawih evening prayer about 8:30 p.m. and close
\nbefore the pre-dawn meal near 3 a.m.<\/p>\n
Due to public pressure, the city administration could not
\nagree to the 1999 City Bylaw deciding to close all discotheques,
\nnight clubs, billiard centers and sauna parlors until seven days
\nafter the post-fasting Idul Fitri celebration, marking the end of
\nRamadhan.<\/p>\n
Only massage parlors operated by blind people were permitted
\nto remain open last year, but those caught organizing
\nprostitution were closed down.<\/p>\n
In the past few days, City Hall was colored again by the
\narrival of some 600 employees of several nightspots urging the
\ncity administration to allow their employers to run their
\nbusinesses as usual.<\/p>\n
The employees of discotheques, night clubs, billiard parlors,
\npubs and restaurants, demanded that nightspots, like last year,
\nbe allowed to open after tarawih and close before the pre-dawn
\nmeal (sahur) during the fasting month.<\/p>\n
\"We would never interrupt a Muslim's prayer. We just want to
\nwork to support our family,\" said Bahrain, 28, a receptionist at
\nAmway dangdut pub in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rizal, another employee, said: \"We are willing to be arrested
\nif the police can prove that we have violated the peace during
\nfasting month.\"<\/p>\n
A heated argument occurred in the City Hall compound when some
\n50 members of the Jakarta Mosque Youth Forum, who want closure of
\nall nightspots in the capital, became involved in a dispute with
\nsecurity personnel.<\/p>\n
The protesters managed to enter the compound one by one and
\nmake a speech in front of the governor's office.<\/p>\n
They were then forced to leave by security officers pushing
\nthem with long wooden sticks.<\/p>\n
The protesters, outnumbered, then retreated, throwing chairs
\nat the security officers as they withdrew.<\/p>\n
There were no injuries reported. (07\/dja)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/council-likely-to-demand-nightspots-close-one-month-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }