FPI plans to sweep nightspots starting Sunday evening
FPI plans to sweep nightspots starting Sunday evening
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A warning from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso apparently will not
deter the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) from organizing raids on
nightspots in the capital during Ramadhan.
The FPI announced on Friday it would begin sweeping nightspots
on Sunday evening as part of its self-appointed campaign to
ensure these businesses remained closed during the month.
FPI commander Jafar Sidiq was quoted by Detik.com as saying
the owners of nightspots in Jakarta's five municipalities would
be "reprimanded" if they stayed open during Ramadhan.
"We will still take action even if the owners are Muslim. For
non-Muslims, including tourists, they must respect the fasting
month," he said.
Last week, Sutiyoso said he had met with Jakarta Police chief
Insp. Gen. Firman Gani and asked the police to get tough on any
groups that raided nightspots during the fasting months.
The operation of nightspots is regulated in a bylaw and a
gubernatorial decree.
Bylaw No. 10/2004 on tourism, which was passed on Aug. 11,
stipulates that nightclubs, discotheques, massage parlors and
spas, except those in star-rated hotels, must close the day
before Ramadhan, on the first day of Ramadhan, the 17th day of
Ramadhan, which is the Koran Revelation Day, and the last day of
the fasting month to the day after Idul Fitri.
Gubernatorial Decree No. 98/2004 on businesses in the tourist
sector, which was issued on Oct. 11, regulates that billiard
halls, karaoke bars and live music bars that share an area or a
building are allowed to open during Ramadhan from 8:30 p.m. to
1:30 a.m.
The decree also allows stand-alone billiard halls to remain
open from 10 a.m. to midnight during the fasting month.
Sutiyoso said raids on nightspots would only tarnish the
city's image and mar the peace of Ramadhan.
The city police are being cautious about commenting on the
issue.
"The police or other appointed government institutions have
the legal authority to raid entertainment centers, as well as
warn any managements that violate the bylaw," city police
spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said.
He refused to comment on what the police would do if the FPI
carried out its promise to raid nightspots and entertainment
centers.
"The public must trust the police and the administration to do
their jobs," Tjiptono said.
He said police precincts would be in charge of monitoring the
operations of nightspots and entertainment centers in their
areas.
The FPI came to the public's attention about three years ago
when it first began raiding nightclubs and bars. FPI leader Habib
Rizieq Shihab was sentenced to seven months in prison last year
for ordering members to vandalize nightclubs, bars and cafes.