348 entertainment venues shut down for breaches

348 entertainment venues shut down for breaches

JAKARTA (JP): The municipality sealed 348 entertainment
centers last year, including 28 last month, for violating
regulations, an official said over the weekend.

Head of City Order Office, Hadi Utomo, said the centers,
including nightclubs, bars, discotheques and massage parlors,
were closed because as well as contravening regulations, most
were being used for "obscene" activities.

"For instance, massage parlors and motels were being used for
prostitution, pool halls for gambling, night clubs and
discotheques for drug dealing... so, we had no choice but to
stop them from operating," Hadi said.

According to regulations, entertainment spots which repeatedly
violate the rules (sealed more than three times) will have their
permits revoked.

"If they want to apply for new permits, they have to undergo
special screening tests and have their permits checked by related
parties, including the City Order Office, City Tourism Agency,
City Fire Department and City Control and Supervision Office of
Building and Development. They must also have a recommendation
from the Jakarta Police," said Toha Reno, head of City Order and
Entertainment Office Subdivision.

For minor violations, such as operating over opening hours
regulations, the centers could be either given a warning letter,
or sealed off temporarily if they violated the same regulation
more than three times.

"The length of temporary closure depends on the mistakes
they've made. It could range from two weeks to six months," he
said, refusing to elaborate.

The 348 reprimanded centers were part of 3,322 entertainment
spots currently operating in Jakarta. They comprise 335 bars, 317
movie theaters, 89 barber shops, 97 video game centers, 235
billiard shooting pools, 92 amusement centers, 139 discotheques,
157 hotels, 10 night clubs, 97 karaoke, 43 health centers, 132
live musics entertainment, 22 motels, 10 spas, 226 massage
parlors and 1,321 restaurants.

Out of the 28 entertainment centers sealed last month, seven
had violated the ban on New Year's Eve celebrations, as stated in
a gubernatorial decree dated Dec. 11.

In the decree, all entertainment spots were banned from
hosting New Year celebrations and must be closed for six
specified days during Ramadhan and the Idul Fitri holidays.

The seven spots temporarily closed were: the Dewi and Royal
massage parlors, West Jakarta; Furama Karaoke, Hayam Wuruk, West
Jakarta; Muara Karang's Games Center, North Jakarta; Kakatua
Restaurants, Sunter, North Jakarta; and Akoya Live Music and
Entertainment and the Travel Hotel, Mangga Besar, West Jakarta.

"We have submitted the results of our routine operation to
Governor Sutiyoso. Now it is up to him to decide the fate of
those places," Hadi said.

Sutiyoso has been ordering his officials to consistently apply
the rules and seal off entertainment places which do not abide by
the rules.

"I don't care who owns them. If they are violating the
regulations, they must be punished in line with the existing
rules. Sanctions are necessary to enforce the law," Sutiyoso said
at a New Year's Eve prayer gathering at Ancol Art Market, Central
Jakarta.

"Some of those places have been sealed off and on over a
period of time. We intend to keep tight control and supervision
over these places. We understand that entertainment centers
constitute one of the biggest contributors to the city's tax and
revenues.

"That is why we want them to be developed as part of the
city's assets. I believe if the businesspeople or owners of those
spots were willing to obey the rules, they wouldn't face any
problems," Hadi said.

He said he has also intensified control and supervision within
his office to prevent collusion between officials and
businesspeople.

"So far, we have managed to take stern action against a number
of negligent officers," Hadi said, refusing to elaborate.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Djafar Badjeber, head of Commission
B for economic affairs, said that the municipality must take
stern action against the owners of problematic spots.

"Revoke their permits permanently if need be," Djafar said.
"Don't show them leniency just because some officials want to
gain personal profits," he added. (edt)