Five nightspots closed down

JAKARTA (JP): The city public order office has temporarily closed four nightspots and an amusement center, and warned four others for violating Ramadhan opening hours.

"The nightspots will be closed down for at least a week starting Monday," said Toha Reno, head of the office's entertainment department, yesterday.

The closed venues were mostly in West Jakarta's Mangga Dua area. They were Atlanta, Haze, Stardust, Pujasera, and Studio Gadjah Mada amusement center.

The office also warned the Sidney 2000, Zodiak, Asmat Cafe and Radja Mas.

"The warned nightspots did not breach rules too much," Toha said. "But the ones closed down opened their establishments almost until four in the morning."

Nightclubs, discotheques, karaoke bars and singing halls can open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m during Ramadhan.

Fitness centers, saunas and massage parlors can open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Live music shows, cultural events, bars, pubs and coffee shops can open from 8 p.m to midnight.

The opening hours apply on Saturdays and national holidays.

Pinball centers can open from 10 a.m. until midnight.

Shows at major hotels are exempt but hotel discos are not.

Earlier, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Idroes had said offenders should have their permits revoked because Ramadhan opening hours were regulated annually and familiar to nightspot owners.

News reports revealed earlier several nightspots operated after permitted hours.

Soon after Idroes' appeal, the public order office raided nightspots and closed down the Exotic and Scorpio discotheques.

Normally, nightclubs and discotheques open from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., while sauna parlors are open from 9 a.m. to midnight, massage parlors from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and pinball centers from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Nightspots cannot open the day before, during or the day after Idul Fitri.

The city has 317 bars, 97 karaoke bars, 139 discotheques, and 10 nightclubs.

Last year, the public order office warned 56 bars, 69 discotheques and three nightclubs and temporarily closed 80 bars, 46 discotheques, six karaoke bars and 16 nightclubs. (ste)