'Are the police afraid of militants?'

'Are the police afraid of militants?'

Following the vandalizing of several nightspots in Greater
Jakarta during Ramadhan by militant groups, the U.S. Embassy has
warned its citizens to take precautions by avoiding stand-alone
bars, clubs and nightclubs. Despite criticism of such violent
raids, no legal action has been taken against the groups. The
Jakarta Post asked some residents about their views on the issue.

Glenn Marsalim, 31, is a creative director at an ads agency on
Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. He lives in Kebayoran Baru, South
Jakarta:

I see that recurring vandalism every Ramadhan has become a
tradition. It happens every year, and, therefore, the
businesspeople should have been prepared for it.

Do you notice that the night spots raided are the same as in
previous years'?

The businesspeople should have closed their premises as
required by law. They should have been aware that this would have
happened.

I myself do not go to any entertainment spots during Ramadhan
to avoid the predictable vandalism. There's nothing wrong with
taking a one-month break from visiting entertainment venues. I
expect my friends to do the same.

Paulina, 30, is a civil engineer who works with a contractor
in South Jakarta. She lives with his husband and daughter in
Cinere, also in South Jakarta:

These incidents reflect that the authority of the police is
not acknowledged by these militant groups.

They argue that they take these actions because the police
have done nothing about nightspots which violate the regulations
on opening hours. But, we can see that these people picked their
targets subjectively as they also smashed up restaurants that
were closed.

I also read in the newspapers that the police were actually
there watching the raids, but did nothing. Are they afraid of
these people, who are blatantly violating the law by disturbing
the peace and damaging the property of others. Or, are they all
in cahoots?

So, whatever the police do now, it's too late. They have
become a laughing stock at the hands of these groups.

--The Jakarta Post