Band of protesters demands casinos for Jakarta, not islands

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Around 250 fierce-looking protesters from Metro Watch, an organization allegedly backed by certain powerful underworld gambling businessmen, besieged Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's residence at midday on Saturday to protest his call to build casinos in the Seribu Islands.

However, a staff member at Sutiyoso's residence on Jl. Untung Suropati said the governor was not at home. Metro Watch left after only 20 minutes but pledged to boost its numbers for a protest at the City Administration Office in Central Jakarta on Monday.

The protesters demanded that any casino should be built in Jakarta instead of in the Seribu Island chain to the north of the capital.

The field coordinator of the protest, Noval, said that Sutiyoso's proposal to establish casinos in the Seribu Islands would be problematic as it could not be policed effectively.

"The most appropriate place is here in Jakarta, as the administration and the police could easily monitor the place. Seribu Islands is quite far away which could result in a lack of monitoring and control by the authorities," he said.

The protesters also demanded that the administration provide funds to prevent the negative impact of gambling on society, but not to eradicate the business.

After the protest, one of the coordinators, who requested anonymity, admitted that Metro Watch was supported financially by a certain group of casino businessmen who were not accommodated in the plans for the Seribu Islands. He would not identify them.

"I think they were mad about the plan, as the (illegal gambling) business in Jakarta is being threatened by the administration. By localizing the casinos in the Seribu Islands all the scattered gambling centers in Jakarta would be eradicated.

"The administration has already chosen one well-known gambling businessman for the Seribu Islands who happens to be a close friend of the governor."

Again he refused to name names.

Prior to arriving at Sutiyoso's residence, the protesters marched toward the police station near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to distribute leaflets.

City administration spokesman Muhayat dismissed suggestions that the administration had made up its mind about the project.

"I could not comment further on the favor of the administration toward certain gambling patrons, as the plan is still far from concluded," he said.

Governor Sutiyoso signaled on Thursday that the city administration was ready to build infrastructure for casinos in the islands.

The previous day Thousand Islands' Regent Abdul Kadir revealed that an investor had officially submitted a written proposal to his office, while others had only expressed their plans to him verbally.