Nightspots suffer huge losses due to Ramadhan closures

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Secretary-general of the Association of Nightspot Owners (Aspehindo) Adrian Mailite said on Friday that members of his group had already suffered losses amounting to tens of billions of rupiah due to the closure of their businesses during the first week of Ramadhan.

He said during normal conditions the entertainment business could contribute up to Rp 32 billion (US$3.05 million) in taxes to the state per month, but this month only 40 percent of that figure will be paid to the government. A loss of nearly Rp 20 billion for the cash-strapped state.

The taxes are paid based on revenue, and the state gets 15 percent of the total.

Succumbing to threats of violence from militant Muslim groups, the authorities in a number of cities have issued decrees prohibiting some venues such as nightclubs, massage parlors and discotheques from operating during the Muslim fasting month, which started on Nov. 17.

Adrian confirmed that in Batam some 3,000 workers have lost their jobs due to the closure order. An increasing number of workers also face mass lay-offs in Jakarta should the crackdowns continue, but their employers are desperately attempting to retain them in their other businesses such as certain types of karaoke bars, live music venues and cafes, which are not explicitly banned by the government.

Employees and Employers in other regions, with the exception of mostly non-Muslim Bali, have experienced similar problems.

Adrian said that many owners preferred to close all of their entertainment venues following attacks by certain militant groups.

Dozens of militants from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) violently raided two entertainment spots in Jakarta on Wednesday after they decided that the businesses were unlawful.

The FPI also forced the closure of several other businesses which they determined to be in violation of the law. But City police said the FPI acted unlawfully themselves, as it is only the authority of the police to enforce laws.

"I will ask the police to fulfill their promise to protect our businesses," Adrian told The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, a Muslim scholar said that banning entertainment centers during the fasting month should be conducted in line with the proper procedures, including through public debate, because a large amount of people here are not devout Muslims.

Project director of the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) Ulil Abshar Abdalla told the Post on Friday that any policy, which affects the public, should be decided through a democratic way similar to a debate in the legislature.

"The authorities should not have issued a decree, prohibiting the amusement centers from operating during Ramadhan only because of pressure from a small group of people," Ulil said.

He said that such a decision should at least be debated at the Regional Legislative Council to give a forum for people to take part in the decision.

Members of the council should listen to all arguments in the society -- both pro and con -- regarding the prohibition during Ramadhan, Ulil said.

He explained that the group who opposes the operation of the businesses in question should not have the power to impose their own view of morality on such a pluralistic society as Indonesia.

"It is okay if they lobby the government peacefully to legislate their version of morality, but it should be done through proper democratic procedures. Certain people may believe that drinking beer and visiting nightclubs is bad, but others may believe it is good," he asserted.

He also stressed that other people think that such closures are unfair as it severely affects the employment and financial situation of thousands of families.

"However, due to the decision in Jakarta by the governor to ban certain nightspots during Ramadhan, the police must uphold that decision, Ulil added.

"The police should act firmly with any businesses which violate the decree so that no other groups in society feel the need to take vigilante justice by attacking the entertainment centers," he said.

However, after Ramadhan the local administrations should commence debates on whether the closures during Ramadhan are actually necessary or democratic.