Ramadhan closure terms disputed by owners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Immediately following pressure from Muslim
\ngroups and six City Council factions, the city administration
\nannounced on Thursday Governor Sutiyoso's expected notice of
\nwhich nightspots should close during Ramadhan, Idul Fitri and
\nChristmas.<\/p>\n
However, the nightspot owners said the policy was unclear.<\/p>\n
The notice, announced by Head of the City Tourism Agency
\nParlindungan Hutabarat, said \"saunas, nightclubs, discotheques
\nand arcades were to close during Ramadhan\" starting on Monday.<\/p>\n
Massage parlors must also be closed \"except those that offer
\ntraditional massage therapy, Japanese massage and where massaging
\nis done by the blind\".<\/p>\n
The hours of operation are limited between 9 p.m. and 12 p.m.<\/p>\n
The notice, signed on Wednesday, differs from the 1999 city
\nbylaw which allowed all nightspots to operate after the end of
\nthe evening Ramadhan prayer at about 8:30 p.m. until the predawn
\nmeal, or about 3 a.m.<\/p>\n
The notice said legal sanctions would be imposed and business
\nlicenses revoked for those violating the prohibition.<\/p>\n
The Association of Nightspot Operators (Aspehindo) requested
\nthat all the businesses be allowed to operate from 9 p.m. to 2
\na.m. during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
The notice also says all nightspots, including those at
\nhotels, are to close on the eve of Ramadhan and its first day and
\none day before the Idul Fitri celebration until the third day
\nafter Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Restaurants are requested to \"respect moral and religious
\nnorms\" although they cater to those who are not fasting.<\/p>\n
Aspehindo chairman Affendie Sastra questioned the reason for
\nclosing massage parlors and discriminating between discotheques
\nand karaoke bars or live music halls.<\/p>\n
Parlindungan said discotheques must close during Ramadhan, but
\nkaraoke bars or live music halls were allowed to operate from 9
\np.m. to 2 a.m.<\/p>\n
\"I don't understand it. A discotheque is similar to a karaoke
\nbar or live music hall. We can just change the (recorded) house
\nmusic to live music to comply with the (Governor's
\nannouncement),\" Affendie said.<\/p>\n
Asked to clarify the difference between discotheques and
\nkaraoke bars, both of which had been targeted by protests,
\nParlindungan only said \"all businesses not mentioned in the
\nnotice are allowed to operate\".<\/p>\n
The selection of businesses to close was based on those with a
\nreputation for permitting illegal activity, such as adultery and
\ndrug transactions.<\/p>\n
Nightspots banned during Ramadhan make up 40 percent of
\nJakarta's entertainment spots, Parlindungan said.<\/p>\n
Affendie, who said he owned a discotheque, added that he would
\nseek clarification from the City Tourism Agency. Even if the
\nnightspots were closed, employees' wages and allowances would
\nstill likely be paid, he said.<\/p>\n
In a talk show program with Radio Elshinta on Thursday,
\nSutiyoso said he hoped the decision would comply with all demands
\nmade by various parties, including Muslim organizations,
\nbusinesses and employees of nightspots in the capital.<\/p>\n
Parlindungan said, \"I call on operators of entertainment
\ncenters to manage their businesses more ethically.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand, people should also take responsibility for
\ntheir choice of nightspot. Don't go there if you believe these
\nplaces aren't right,\" he added. (07)<\/p>",
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