FPI plans to sweep nightspots starting Sunday evening<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A warning from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso apparently will not
\ndeter the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) from organizing raids on
\nnightspots in the capital during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
The FPI announced on Friday it would begin sweeping nightspots
\non Sunday evening as part of its self-appointed campaign to
\nensure these businesses remained closed during the month.<\/p>\n
FPI commander Jafar Sidiq was quoted by Detik.com as saying
\nthe owners of nightspots in Jakarta's five municipalities would
\nbe \"reprimanded\" if they stayed open during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
\"We will still take action even if the owners are Muslim. For
\nnon-Muslims, including tourists, they must respect the fasting
\nmonth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last week, Sutiyoso said he had met with Jakarta Police chief
\nInsp. Gen. Firman Gani and asked the police to get tough on any
\ngroups that raided nightspots during the fasting months.<\/p>\n
The operation of nightspots is regulated in a bylaw and a
\ngubernatorial decree.<\/p>\n
Bylaw No. 10\/2004 on tourism, which was passed on Aug. 11,
\nstipulates that nightclubs, discotheques, massage parlors and
\nspas, except those in star-rated hotels, must close the day
\nbefore Ramadhan, on the first day of Ramadhan, the 17th day of
\nRamadhan, which is the Koran Revelation Day, and the last day of
\nthe fasting month to the day after Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Gubernatorial Decree No. 98\/2004 on businesses in the tourist
\nsector, which was issued on Oct. 11, regulates that billiard
\nhalls, karaoke bars and live music bars that share an area or a
\nbuilding are allowed to open during Ramadhan from 8:30 p.m. to
\n1:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
The decree also allows stand-alone billiard halls to remain
\nopen from 10 a.m. to midnight during the fasting month.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said raids on nightspots would only tarnish the
\ncity's image and mar the peace of Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
The city police are being cautious about commenting on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
\"The police or other appointed government institutions have
\nthe legal authority to raid entertainment centers, as well as
\nwarn any managements that violate the bylaw,\" city police
\nspokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said.<\/p>\n
He refused to comment on what the police would do if the FPI
\ncarried out its promise to raid nightspots and entertainment
\ncenters.<\/p>\n
\"The public must trust the police and the administration to do
\ntheir jobs,\" Tjiptono said.<\/p>\n
He said police precincts would be in charge of monitoring the
\noperations of nightspots and entertainment centers in their
\nareas.<\/p>\n
The FPI came to the public's attention about three years ago
\nwhen it first began raiding nightclubs and bars. FPI leader Habib
\nRizieq Shihab was sentenced to seven months in prison last year
\nfor ordering members to vandalize nightclubs, bars and cafes.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fpi-plans-to-sweep-nightspots-starting-sunday-evening-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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