Governor warns nightclubs used for drug dealing

Governor warns nightclubs used for drug dealing

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday that
the city will revoke the operation permits of public
establishments used for drug dealing.

The governor has instructed the city's tourism agency to
follow President Soeharto's instruction to close down any
discotheques caught being used for dealing Ecstasy or other
illegal substances.

"The establishments will not get another chance to operate in
the city. We will not wait until their permits are due," Surjadi
told reporters.

"People need discotheques, bars, nightclubs and the like to
relax. They need 'clean' places, therefore I will make sure that
there will be no delinquent establishments, " he said.

City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga supported the governor's
decision, saying that there is no way the managements could not
know about the illicit activities taking place.

"It is impossible not to know. They just turn their heads.
Therefore, firm action against them is appropriate," Ritonga
said.

President Soeharto told Coordinating Minister for People's
Welfare Azwar Anas on Tuesday that the operation permits of
establishments must be monitored.

Azwar said that the President also instructed the mayors not
to give permits to businesses wanting to open new discotheques in
the mayoralty.

There are 3,174 night establishments in the city. According to
city data, 17 have been warned for Ecstasy violations.

Ecstasy has become one of the most difficult drugs for law
enforcers to control in the capital.

The son of a very influential figure is reportedly the
mastermind behind the illicit circulation of Ecstasy in Jakarta.
Sources say that discotheque owners are afraid to close at 2:00
a.m, when the man and his gang are usually still present.

Meanwhile, a police officer was recently found dead after
taking Ecstasy in a discotheque in West Jakarta.

In a raid on three discotheques last week police found clients
in possession of Ecstasy. However, the city administration did
not revoke the permits of the establishments.

So far, the public order office has only revoked the permit of
one discotheque, Ganesha, for violating its hours of operation.
(yns)

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