Mobs storm, vandalize hotels and discotheque
Mobs storm, vandalize hotels and discotheque
JAKARTA (JP): Angry mobs raided and vandalized two hotels at
separate locations in East and West Jakarta over the weekend,
claiming both establishments offered the services of prostitutes.
Another crowd of angry residents in North Jakarta staged a
rally in front of a discotheque in Pejagalan, demanding the owner
lower the sound of the disco's sound system and close for
business on Thursday nights and any other religious days.
No fatalities were recorded, although both hotels suffered
serious damage after the mobs pelted the windows with stones and
bricks and damaged parts of the buildings.
The first incident took place on Saturday night at Sofyan
Rensa Hotel in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, when some 200 locals
raided the one-star hotel, alleging the hotel was also used for
prostitution practices.
According to an eyewitness, the mob suddenly appeared at the
site at about 11 p.m. and hastily pelted the front doors and
windows with stones.
"Some of them managed to enter the hotel. They, however, fled
at the arrival of the police," said the witness, a kiosk owner
who has been running his business across the street from the
hotel for several years.
"As far as I'm concerned, this hotel has never been involved
in such illegal (sex) practices," he said.
The hotel owner could not be reached for comment, but
according to a staffer, the hotel -- the facade of which is in
the style of West Sumatra's Minangkabau traditional Rumah Gadang
house -- does not even sell alcoholic beverages.
"We only provide standard one-star facilities, like a
restaurant and 25 rooms," he said.
According to the police report, the residents were led by
local Muslim leader K.H. Mustapa. No one was arrested in the
incident.
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people ran amok at Pondok
Hijau hotel in Kebun Jeruk.
According to the mob, the place was closed down by the local
authorities on April 11 for running such an illicit business.
The management, they claimed, resumed their business and hired
bodyguards to escort the guests.
The mob shattered the windows, removed roof tiles and scrawled
"Tutup" (closed) across the hotel's signboard at the front gate.
The crowd left the scene upon the arrival of the local
police.
The hotel's staff could not be reached for comment.
At the Omega Discotheque on Jl. Jembatan II in Pejagalan, a
crowd of some 100 people staged a protest in front of the
discotheque at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, asking the owner to
respect the religious activities of the locals, the police said.
The crowd dispersed peacefully four hours later after
negotiating with the owner. (09)