Mob vents wrath on Puncak discotheques
BOGOR (JP): Mobs of hundreds of people stoned 12 discotheques in the mountainous Puncak resort area here yesterday in a long- running feud over alleged prostitution and illegal drug transactions at the establishments.
Windows were broken but no items stolen from the nightclubs, identified as Rufi Fitria, Anaria, Oke Boss, Studio 20, Monggo Mas, Imagination, Goa, Dewa Dewi, Rindu Malam, Nutria, Twenty and Mawar Merah Lugina.
All of the establishments are located on a road which passes through several villages, including Leuwimalang, Cibereum and Batu Layang, in Cisarua district.
Local resident Zul Ikhwan said he was jogging at about 7 a.m. when he noticed many people congregated on the street.
"I felt strange. There were about 250 people standing along the street in the morning. It was unusual," Zul told The Jakarta Post.
He said people encouraged bystanders to join them, and their number quickly swelled.
An unidentified group of motorcyclists arrived, he said, and egged on the people.
"Come on, attack the discotheques," Zul quoted the motorcyclists as saying.
Some members of the mob were roused by the group and joined in the vandalism.
He said the incident lasted for half an hour and ended when the motorcyclists left.
Five men were temporarily detained by officers of the Cisarua police subprecinct for alleged involvement in the stoning, but they were released after questioning.
"People will be angry with the police if they are detained," said Tatang, a local community leader.
Bogor Police Chief Lt. Col. Ferial Manaf suspected an outside party was involved. "There is a third party who led the riot," he told reporters yesterday.
Zul said local residents had long expressed their wish for the area to be freed of discotheques and nightclubs because they were regarded as "dens of vice".
"The people were silent so far because there were no people who dared to lead them."
Cecep Muchtar, a local Moslem preacher who heads the Al- Hidayah Islamic boarding school, also complained about the presence of the nightclubs.
"The entertainment centers are open at night until the next morning every day. Their loud music could be heard from here, competing with Adzan (calls for Moslems to pray) and Majlis Taklim (Islamic study group)," Muchtar said.
Another preacher, Muhammad Zein, alleged the discotheques sold alcoholic beverages and provided prostitutes from other areas.
"The places are dens of drunks, drug traffickers and illegal prostitutes."
Zul added: "Visitors here can no logger differentiate between good women and prostitutes who live here. I feel uncomfortable because I have a sister."
Zein said many hoodlums from outside Puncak often visited and caused trouble. "The establishments cause a real social problem and disturb public interests."
He said locals and preachers wanted a conducive environment to rear and educate children.
Meanwhile, local preachers discussed the incident yesterday with Ferial, Bogor Regional Police Chief Col. Hari Setyabudi and Bogor Military District Chief Lt. Col. Misjan Anang Sutisna.
The preachers urged the closure of the discotheques to avoid further unrest.
But the security officials said they did not have the authority to close them.
"The hope of the preachers and the people is important input for us. But the local administration has the right to close the places," Hari said. (24/jun)