Hotel discos will stay open during Ramadhan<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The city reminded the management of entertainment centers in the
\ncapital on Tuesday to close their business during the holy month
\nas a sign of respect to Muslims.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said that regular bars,
\nnightclubs, discotheques, amusement centers and massage parlors
\nhad to remain closed one day before the holy month started on
\nOct. 4 until one day after it ended on Nov. 2.<\/p>\n
\"We have issued a bylaw on that issue and we will cooperate
\nwith police to monitor its implementation,\" Fauzi said at City
\nHall.<\/p>\n
Bylaw No. 10\/2004 on tourism, especially Article 30, states
\nthat nightclubs, discotheques, saunas, massage parlors, amusement
\ncenters and bars must be closed throughout the fasting month of
\nRamadhan.<\/p>\n
Under the bylaw, karaoke bars, live music bars and billiard
\nhalls may operate during Ramadhan from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.,
\nexcept those sharing the same location with nightclubs, massage
\nparlors, discotheques and amusement centers, which have to be
\nclosed.<\/p>\n
Entertainment centers that are facilities provided by star-
\nrated hotels can operate as usual throughout the holy month,
\nexcept on seven days -- one day before and the first day of
\nRamadhan, the Nuzulul Quran (the 17th day of Ramadhan), and from
\none day before Idul Fitri until one day after.<\/p>\n
Other places of entertainment will be open during the
\nRamadhan, including bowling alleys, golf courses, sports
\nstadiums, ice skating rinks, movie theaters, parks, swimming
\npools and barbershops. Certain barbershops are often reported to
\nbe dens of ill repute, operating as fronts for prostitution.<\/p>\n
Questioning the bylaw, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman
\nGani on Tuesday called for the scrapping of the special treatment
\ngiven to entertainment centers in star-rated hotels.<\/p>\n
\"That will only confuse the public and police,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He proposed all entertainment centers in the city be closed
\ndown in the first three days of Ramadhan and three days before
\nthen end of the holy month.<\/p>\n
Firman promised to take stern action against groups taking the
\nlaw into their hands and attempting to violently force closures
\nof entertainment centers.<\/p>\n
The hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) has regularly
\nsmashed up nightclubs and bars operating during the fasting month
\nduring the past five years.<\/p>\n
Last year, FPI members raided several bars and nightclubs in
\nJakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Association of the Indonesian Entertainment
\nCenter Owners (Aspehindo) secretary-general Adrian Maelite said
\nthat the managements of entertainment centers would abide by the
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
Adrian, however, urged the city administration to help seek
\nalternative solutions for certain business because they employed
\nmany people, including waiters.<\/p>\n
There are at least 1,235 registered entertainment centers
\nemploying some 50,000 people across the capital.<\/p>",
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