New closure ruling upsets association
Ahmad Junaidi and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city chapter of the Association of Indonesian Entertainment Centers (Aspehi) expressed its disappointment on Wednesday over the city administration's plan to close entertainment centers during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
"Frankly, we're disappointed over the planned closure of the entertainment centers," Aspehi secretary Adrian Mahulete said.
The administration's plan to close entertainment centers, such as video game centers, massage parlors, discotheques and night clubs, during Ramadhan was mainly based on pressure from hard- line groups, he said.
He said the administration should consider the thousands of people whose livelihood depended on the centers, instead of only heeding the demands of pressure groups.
"The people need income for Idul Fitri celebrations and Christmas. The administration should also think about them," Adrian remarked.
He suggested the administration permit the centers to open from 8:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. as they have permitted bars, cafes, karaoke bars and live music rooms in the proposed gubernatorial decree.
"Bars, cafes and karaoke lounges are no different from other entertainment centers. The entertainment centers should not be discriminated against," he added.
Adrian also questioned the plan to ban bars, cafes and restaurants from selling alcoholic drinks since it would be detrimental to their business.
He suggested that the administration specify what kind of alcoholic drinks would be banned during Ramadhan.
"Probably drinks with a high alcohol content could be banned, but not all alcoholic drinks," he said.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said on Wednesday that the police would take stern action against hard-line groups if they forced their own issues during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
"If they push their own issues and ignore the ruling that has been agreed upon, it means that they are breaking the law, and the police will take firm action against them," Anton said.
The police must ensure that all parties abide by the ruling, Anton said.
Separately, secretary of the city chapter of Muhamadiyah Agus Suradika asked the public not to demonstrate and demand the closure of entertainment centers which continued to operate during Ramadhan.
"Let the administration enforce the regulation and revoke the operating licenses of centers that violate it," Agus said.
He said, however, the administration should enforce the regulation properly, to avoid the public taking the law into their own hands.
He suggested the administration close all entertainment centers in the city, without exception, during Ramadhan.
"The planned decree shows that the administration is not sensitive to the will of the people," he said.