Mob vents wrath on Puncak discotheques<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): Mobs of hundreds of people stoned 12 discotheques
\nin the mountainous Puncak resort area here yesterday in a long-
\nrunning feud over alleged prostitution and illegal drug
\ntransactions at the establishments.<\/p>\n
Windows were broken but no items stolen from the nightclubs,
\nidentified as Rufi Fitria, Anaria, Oke Boss, Studio 20, Monggo
\nMas, Imagination, Goa, Dewa Dewi, Rindu Malam, Nutria, Twenty and
\nMawar Merah Lugina.<\/p>\n
All of the establishments are located on a road which passes
\nthrough several villages, including Leuwimalang, Cibereum and
\nBatu Layang, in Cisarua district.<\/p>\n
Local resident Zul Ikhwan said he was jogging at about 7 a.m.
\nwhen he noticed many people congregated on the street.<\/p>\n
"I felt strange. There were about 250 people standing along
\nthe street in the morning. It was unusual," Zul told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
He said people encouraged bystanders to join them, and their
\nnumber quickly swelled.<\/p>\n
An unidentified group of motorcyclists arrived, he said, and
\negged on the people.<\/p>\n
"Come on, attack the discotheques," Zul quoted the
\nmotorcyclists as saying.<\/p>\n
Some members of the mob were roused by the group and joined in
\nthe vandalism.<\/p>\n
He said the incident lasted for half an hour and ended when
\nthe motorcyclists left.<\/p>\n
Five men were temporarily detained by officers of the Cisarua
\npolice subprecinct for alleged involvement in the stoning, but
\nthey were released after questioning.<\/p>\n
"People will be angry with the police if they are detained,"
\nsaid Tatang, a local community leader.<\/p>\n
Bogor Police Chief Lt. Col. Ferial Manaf suspected an outside
\nparty was involved. "There is a third party who led the riot," he
\ntold reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
Zul said local residents had long expressed their wish for the
\narea to be freed of discotheques and nightclubs because they were
\nregarded as "dens of vice".<\/p>\n
"The people were silent so far because there were no people
\nwho dared to lead them."<\/p>\n
Cecep Muchtar, a local Moslem preacher who heads the Al-
\nHidayah Islamic boarding school, also complained about the
\npresence of the nightclubs.<\/p>\n
"The entertainment centers are open at night until the next
\nmorning every day. Their loud music could be heard from here,
\ncompeting with Adzan (calls for Moslems to pray) and Majlis
\nTaklim (Islamic study group)," Muchtar said.<\/p>\n
Another preacher, Muhammad Zein, alleged the discotheques sold
\nalcoholic beverages and provided prostitutes from other areas.<\/p>\n
"The places are dens of drunks, drug traffickers and illegal
\nprostitutes."<\/p>\n
Zul added: "Visitors here can no logger differentiate between
\ngood women and prostitutes who live here. I feel uncomfortable
\nbecause I have a sister."<\/p>\n
Zein said many hoodlums from outside Puncak often visited and
\ncaused trouble. "The establishments cause a real social problem
\nand disturb public interests."<\/p>\n
He said locals and preachers wanted a conducive environment to
\nrear and educate children.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, local preachers discussed the incident yesterday
\nwith Ferial, Bogor Regional Police Chief Col. Hari Setyabudi and
\nBogor Military District Chief Lt. Col. Misjan Anang Sutisna.<\/p>\n
The preachers urged the closure of the discotheques to avoid
\nfurther unrest.<\/p>\n
But the security officials said they did not have the
\nauthority to close them.<\/p>\n
"The hope of the preachers and the people is important input
\nfor us. But the local administration has the right to close the
\nplaces," Hari said. (24\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mob-vents-wrath-on-puncak-discotheques-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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