Mob vents wrath on Puncak discotheques

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)