Gamblers have last laugh in last car<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Days after city police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani vowed to
\neradicate gambling in three days, gamblers on an economy-class
\ncommuter train plying the Kota-Rangkas Bitung route were making a
\nmockery of the campaign.<\/p>\n
The men were playing dominoes for money on the train from Kota
\nto Banten province, which stops at Serpong, Parung Panjang,
\nTenjo, Tiga Raksa and Rangkas Bitung stations.<\/p>\n
\"Police! Police! Stop gambling or I will arrest you,\" Johan,
\n(not his real name) said, imitating the Jakarta Police in their
\ndrive to wipe out gambling in the capital.<\/p>\n
In the last of the eight train cars, four groups of gamblers
\nwere busy playing dominoes. Each group consisted of four players
\nwho bet Rp 2,000 (21 US cents) each per game.<\/p>\n
Most of the players were blue collar workers with jobs in
\nKota, Mangga Dua, Tanjung Priok, Tanah Abang and Senen, according
\nto Johan.<\/p>\n
Gambling on the way home is something the men look forward to
\nat work. From Kota to Rangkas Bitung the composition of each
\ngroup changes as passengers board and get off the train.<\/p>\n
Most economy-class passengers on that route are aware the last
\ncar is used as a \"gambling den\". State-owned railway company PT
\nKereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has so far not taken any action to
\nstop the illegal activity.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Sutanto, in a meeting at National
\nPolice Headquarters last Monday -- his first day as chief -- set
\na one-week deadline for regional police chiefs to eradicate
\ngambling in their precincts.<\/p>\n
Responding to the order, Firman Gani said last Tuesday he
\nwould eradicate gambling in the capital and its surrounding areas
\nwithin three days.<\/p>\n
Johan, a resident of the Tiga Raksa housing complex, said
\ninitially dominoes had been played to kill time.<\/p>\n
\"The trip from Tiga Raksa to Kota takes more than two hours.
\nWe are bored if there is no activity,\" said Johan, adding that
\nsome people lost their whole day's wages gambling on the way
\nhome.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the tough antigambling policy, Johan questioned
\nthe police's seriousness.<\/p>\n
In any case, he had other things on his mind. \"I am sorry,\" he
\nsaid to The Jakarta Post's journalist, \"I can't talk anymore, the
\ngame is underway.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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