Ambon students say no to legal gambling

Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Pattimura University students protested on Wednesday a proposal by the Student Representative Council to the Ambon administration and city council to establish a legal lottery in the city.

The protesters accused the chairman of the student council, Yoga Papulaja, of damaging the university's reputation with the proposal.

Protest coordinator Syaiful Chaniago said the student council should have considered all aspects of the issue before taking an action that affected the university and the public.

"Legalizing gambling is like legalizing crime for the sake of economic benefit," he said.

During the protest, students set fire to tires and carried banners that read, "The council's research is not objective and tarnishes Pattimura University's name", "Don't exploit the institution as a gambling center" and "The council is an accomplice to gambling bosses in Ambon".

The protest on Wednesday followed a study carried out by the student council on people's attitude toward the lottery.

In the study, 80 percent of 1,311 people questioned reportedly said they supported the legalization of the lottery, or togel.

The results of the study were presented during a seminar in May, after which they were given to the Ambon city administration and city council.

The Student Representative Council proposed legalizing the lottery to help the administration increase revenue. The study said togel had already become an integrated part of people's daily lives, and that legalizing the lottery would provide jobs for local residents.

In their study, the student council asked the Ambon city council to prepare a draft bylaw on legalizing the lottery.

The protesters gathered in front of the office of the Student Representative Council on Wednesday. Though the office was closed, the protesters were able to meet with several of the council's executives.

Responding to the protest, Yoga said the council carried out the study to help the Ambon city administration find new sources of revenue.

"That is why I came up with this (proposal), after conducting research in the community," he said.

Yoga asked the local administration to look at the issue of a legalize togel objectively and to ask the city council to consider a legalized lottery.

"If togel cannot be legalized, we would ask the Ambon city administration and the city council to find alternatives for people who earn their living from the game," he said.