Amusement centers reopened
JAKARTA (JP): All the 266 entertainment centers closed down late last month for allegedly being used as gambling and prostitution dens started operating again on Tuesday with certain conditions attached, Governor Sutiyoso said.
"The owners, who are allowed to operate their centers again, have been asked to sign agreements stating that they will not alter their centers into gambling or prostitution dens again. If they are caught out three times, their permits will be revoked permanently," Sutiyoso said.
The closure of the 266 entertainment establishments, including games halls, steam baths, massage parlors and pubs, had left some 20,000 people, including 6,000 masseuses, without jobs.
"I am allowing the reopening of the establishments for those who are left without jobs now, particularly the real masseuses... They should not suffer just because of the activities of a handful of people who violated the laws," Sutiyoso said.
The governor ordered the temporary closure of the centers in a meeting on Nov. 26 after their owners were caught changing their establishments into gambling or prostitution dens.
Out of the 266 entertainment spots temporarily closed down there were 14 whose owners were not invited to the Nov. 26 meeting.
Sutiyoso gave the order following the Nov. 22 riots that were sparked by a clash between guards of an entertainment center, which was also believed to be a gambling den in Ketapang, West Jakarta, and local residents.
That clash resulted in the vandalizing and burning of 22 churches.
In an unrelated development, the administration had ordered all massage parlors closed down on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, the first days of the fasting month, according to an official of the public order office.
Tongam Tambunan said that unlike those in Surabaya, East Java, where massage parlors will remain open throughout the Ramadhan fasting month from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., it will not happen here.
"A decision taken by the governor of every province is suited only to the province concerned. All 432 massage parlors here will be closed on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, and on the Idul Fitri holidays which fall on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 and a day before that," Tongam said.
Head of the city's public order subdivision for entertainment establishments Toha Reno said that the number of security personnel deployed in the city's 60 crime black spots will not be increased during the coming holidays, namely Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri.
"It is 15 personnel for each spot for now and will remain so due to the limited number of police and military personnel. The 15 include security personnel from the police, military and civilians as well," Toha said. (ylt)