Mobs storm, vandalize hotels and discotheque<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Angry mobs raided and vandalized two hotels at
\nseparate locations in East and West Jakarta over the weekend,
\nclaiming both establishments offered the services of prostitutes.<\/p>\n
Another crowd of angry residents in North Jakarta staged a
\nrally in front of a discotheque in Pejagalan, demanding the owner
\nlower the sound of the disco's sound system and close for
\nbusiness on Thursday nights and any other religious days.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were recorded, although both hotels suffered
\nserious damage after the mobs pelted the windows with stones and
\nbricks and damaged parts of the buildings.<\/p>\n
The first incident took place on Saturday night at Sofyan
\nRensa Hotel in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, when some 200 locals
\nraided the one-star hotel, alleging the hotel was also used for
\nprostitution practices.<\/p>\n
According to an eyewitness, the mob suddenly appeared at the
\nsite at about 11 p.m. and hastily pelted the front doors and
\nwindows with stones.<\/p>\n
"Some of them managed to enter the hotel. They, however, fled
\nat the arrival of the police," said the witness, a kiosk owner
\nwho has been running his business across the street from the
\nhotel for several years.<\/p>\n
"As far as I'm concerned, this hotel has never been involved
\nin such illegal (sex) practices," he said.<\/p>\n
The hotel owner could not be reached for comment, but
\naccording to a staffer, the hotel -- the facade of which is in
\nthe style of West Sumatra's Minangkabau traditional Rumah Gadang
\nhouse -- does not even sell alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
"We only provide standard one-star facilities, like a
\nrestaurant and 25 rooms," he said.<\/p>\n
According to the police report, the residents were led by
\nlocal Muslim leader K.H. Mustapa. No one was arrested in the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people ran amok at Pondok
\nHijau hotel in Kebun Jeruk.<\/p>\n
According to the mob, the place was closed down by the local
\nauthorities on April 11 for running such an illicit business.<\/p>\n
The management, they claimed, resumed their business and hired
\nbodyguards to escort the guests.<\/p>\n
The mob shattered the windows, removed roof tiles and scrawled
\n"Tutup" (closed) across the hotel's signboard at the front gate.<\/p>\n
The crowd left the scene upon the arrival of the local
\npolice.<\/p>\n
The hotel's staff could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
At the Omega Discotheque on Jl. Jembatan II in Pejagalan, a
\ncrowd of some 100 people staged a protest in front of the
\ndiscotheque at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, asking the owner to
\nrespect the religious activities of the locals, the police said.<\/p>\n
The crowd dispersed peacefully four hours later after
\nnegotiating with the owner. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mobs-storm-vandalize-hotels-and-discotheque-1447893297",
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