Ambon students say no to legal gambling

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.