Many amusement centers ignore closing hours

Many amusement centers ignore closing hours

JAKARTA (JP): Operators of nightclubs, bars, discotheques and
other entertainment centers have again been reminded of their
obligation to obey Ramadhan fasting month operation hours.

"I have reminded them many times, but many of them are still
operating until late in the morning," the chairman of the
Association of Entertainment and Tourism Businessmen in Jakarta,
Yories Raweyai, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

The city administration has imposed a curfew on entertainment
centers in Jakarta during the fasting month of Ramadhan, limiting
their hours to 1 a.m. and prohibiting them from opening during
the day.

According to Yories and several nightclub visitors, many bars,
nightclubs, discotheques and massage parlors in the city stay
open until 7 a.m.

"Some of them are even open until 10 a.m. in the morning," a
regular visitor, who refused to be identified, told the Post.

Yories named several discotheques that have ignored the city's
rules.

"Zodiac, Atlanta, Terminal One and Hailai entertainment
centers are only a few of the places I know which have violated
the operation hours during this holy month," said Yories, a
Christian.

"I am tired of asking them to obey the government rules in
order to respect Moslems who are fasting," he said.

"I don't want to be blamed by the public for being behind the
violation because many people have accused me of backing the
operators," said Yories, who is also the executive chairman of
the powerful Pemuda Pancasila youth organization.

When asked to comment, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman
Haryatna said Jakarta Police will soon investigate the reports.

"We'll soon contact the city entertainment department," he
said. "We'll take stiff measures if we find any entertainment
center breaking the rules," he added.

Head of the city's entertainment department, Toha Reno, said
that most operators are clever enough to elude the police.

"They always pretended to close their centers soon after our
officials come by," Toha said.

Toha's office has temporarily closed down two restaurants for
violating the opening hours.

The restaurants are the Atrium Food Center in Senen, Central
Jakarta and Indiana Bar and Restaurant in Kemang, South Jakarta.

The Indiana Bar and Restaurant was closed down on Monday
because it opened its bar in the afternoon. The food center was
shut for presenting live music at noon, Toha said. (bsr/yns)