Clerics protest 'Togel'

Clerics protest 'Togel'

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto

Around 60 Muslim clerics and dozens of community leaders staged a
rally at the Banyumas Legislative Council on Friday, demanding
that the government stop an illegal lottery, locally known as
Togel.

They said that despite being banned by law, the lottery was
popular with almost all levels of the society across Indonesia
and the authorities had not taken stern actions against it.

The protest came more than a week before the Muslim fasting
month of Ramadhan that will fall on either Oct. 26 or Oct. 27.

"We have lost our patience. We urge the government and
security forces to immediately halt the circulation of togel,
especially during Ramadhan," said rally leader Noer Iskandar Al-
Barsany.

Noer is a member of the House of Representatives from the
National Awakening Party (PKB) and leader of the al-Hidayah
Islamic boarding school in Karangsuci, Purwokerto, the capital
city of Banyumas.

"We are suspicious of the police. Why do they keep silent?
Maybe they are protecting the gambling operators," Noer Iskandar
said.

He said local ulema and community leaders agreed that Banyumas
should be free from togel, arguing that it had poisoned people.

Banyumas council speaker Triwaluyo Basuki, who received the
protesters, promised to convey their demands to the local police.

"I promise that by Ramadhan, there will no more kiosks selling
togel on the sidewalks," he said.

The demonstrators accused the council of lacking concern for
the gambling issue.