FPI forces Kemang eateries to close during Idul Fitri

FPI forces Kemang eateries to close during Idul Fitri

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

While many Jakarta residents were looking for places to eat out
on the first day of Idul Fitri on Thursday, the Islamic Defenders
Front (FPI) forced restaurants and cafes in Kemang, South
Jakarta, to close.

Izzi Pizza outlet in the area, for instance, had to close at 2
p.m. after a member of FPI called them up requesting that the
outlet close immediately.

"A member of the FPI came to the outlet. After that, his
colleagues claimed a higher-ranking member within the
organization called us warning that if we don't close our outlet,
a group of members would come," operational manager Deni
complained to The Jakarta Post.

Worried that the organization would ransack the outlet, he
said, the management decided to close, even though it had only
opened at noon.

Around the same time, other restaurants and cafes also closed.

As the outlet did not sell liquor during Ramadhan or on
Thursday, he wondered why the FPI insisted that the outlet close.

"I don't understand why we have to close our outlet during the
Idul Fitri holiday. There is no regulations requiring us to do
so. All of our employees are Muslims and the holiday is a time
for them to get more tips than usual," he said.

As there are dozens of restaurants and cafes in the area, Deni
said, hundreds of employees would lose their income during Idul
Fitri.

One of cafe owners in Kemang, who asked not to be identified,
also complained that they had to close the cafe after receiving a
letter from FPI requiring all restaurants and cafes in Kemang to
close during Idul Fitri.

"We don't want to take any risks so we closed our cafe.
However, since many cafes and restaurant here belong to
foreigners, I am worried that FPI's move will scare them off. How
many people will lose their jobs then?" the cafe owner told the
Post.

He called on the authorities to clarify whether they could
operate during Idul Fitri or not to avoid a similar incident in
the future.

Meanwhile, FPI's operational chief Ekajaya said that several
groups in Kemang, including restaurant and cafe owners and the
local administration had agreed that all cafes and restaurants
would be closed during Idul Fitri.

"We must respect Idul Fitri. If any restaurants open on those
days then they have violated the agreement. Beside, we have a
regulation prohibiting a cafe or restaurant staying open on Idul
Fitri," he told the Post while not specifying what regulation he
was referring to.

According to Bylaw No. 10/2004 on tourism, nightclubs, saunas,
discotheques, massage parlors, amusement centers and bars must be
closed during Ramadhan. No bylaw or gubernatorial decree,
however, prohibits family restaurants or cafes from staying open
during Ramadhan and Idul Fitri.