Workers threaten unrest over gambling den closure<\/p>\n
Fadli
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nBatam, Riau<\/p>\n
Tension has blanketed a part of Batam as hundreds of workers,
\nangered by the police closure of a casino in the resort area of
\nTering Bay, have threatened to attack other casinos on the
\nindustrial island in the Riau archipelago.<\/p>\n
More than 500 workers and ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers from
\nTering Bay marched to the local police station on Monday to
\ndemand that either the casino be reopened or that other casinos
\nin Batam also be shut down.<\/p>\n
Poniman, a 32-year-old security guard at Tering Bay, was one
\nof the protesters opposed to the closure of the casino, which he
\nsaid was their only source of income.<\/p>\n
\"We are asking the police to take this into account. If our
\nplace of work is shut down, please close the other casinos in
\nNagoya. They should not be allowed to stay open as that is
\ndiscrimination,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As their demands were not immediately met, rumors circulated
\nthat the protesters would launch attacks on several hotels and
\nnightclubs operating without a gambling permit.<\/p>\n
The threat came in reaction to the casino's closure by police
\non Friday following mounting pressure from religious leaders,
\nactivists of non-governmental organizations and other local
\ncommunity members to stop gambling.<\/p>\n
Targets of possible attacks by the angry workers could include
\nthe Good Way Hotel in Nagoya, which they said had long been
\noperating a casino.<\/p>\n
In anticipation of a possible attack, plainclothes security
\npersonnel kept the three-star hotel under tight guard, sparking
\nfresh tension in Nagoya and nearby areas.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere across the city, other casino operators closed their
\ndoors in fear of possible attacks amid the demonstration by the
\nworkers and ojek drivers from Tering Bay in Nongsa subdistrict.<\/p>\n
However, no violence was reported in Batam on Monday evening
\nafter the protest.<\/p>\n
Barelang Police chief Sr. Comr. Suhartono vowed to take firm
\naction against anyone attempting to spark unrest in Batam.<\/p>\n
He said the police's move to stop gambling at Tering Bay was
\nbecause it was unlawful.<\/p>\n
However, he rejected the protesters' demand to shut down other
\ncasinos on the industrial island.<\/p>\n
\"We closed the casino at Tering Bay because its (gambling)
\npermit was illegal. But we cannot close other gambling spots as
\nmany people there need that income to survive,\" Suhartono said.<\/p>\n
During Friday's operation, led by Adj. Comr. Nasri, police
\nofficers made no arrests.<\/p>\n
The police have pledged to summon Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir for
\nquestioning for his administration's decision last year to
\nlegalize gambling in Tering Bay in cooperation with local private
\ncompany PT Dewa Menara Wisata as the management of the resort.<\/p>\n
The mayor has refused to talk to journalists about the
\ncontroversial issue for several weeks. Spokesman Hartoyo Sirkoen
\nsaid Nyat Kadir would clarify the gambling issue with police.<\/p>\n
\"The mayor has told me that he has left the problem up to the
\npolice and he is waiting for a summons,\" Hartoyo said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the deputy speaker of the Batam legislature,
\nMuhammad Nabil, backed the protesters' demand to shut down other
\ngambling spots on the island to prevent possible unrest.<\/p>\n
The move would also avoid sparking jealousy among operators
\nand workers of casinos, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Raids on all casinos need to be carried out by police to
\navoid accusations of discrimination,\" Nabil said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-threaten-unrest-over-gambling-den-closure-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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