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.