Five nightspots closed down

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)