Nightspots urged to stop business during Ramadhan

Nightspots urged to stop business during Ramadhan

BOGOR (JP): Local authorities have suggested owners of all
entertainment centers here agree to demands aired by different
organizations recently and temporarily close their businesses
prior to and during the Ramadhan fasting month.

"We were tipped-off a couple of days ago that mobs would burn
the nightspots here (should the management fail to meet their
calls)," E. Rukanda, head of Bogor's social and political office,
told reporters here on Thursday.

A willingness to close their establishments for a time would
help calm the people, who have repeatedly threatened to attack
them and have actively declared war against immorality in their
town, he said.

Different groups of local people have set a deadline of
Saturday this week for the owners to have shut down their
businesses.

They have actually demanded that the nightspots, which they
claim are used for sex and drug transactions, close forever,
instead of only during the fasting month, as suggested by
Rukanda.

According to Rukanda, the night spots mentioned by the groups
to be in danger of arson attacks are, among others, the Puri Mira
dangdut music hall in Tajur; Sukasari Karaoke, Spektrum
Discotheque and Raja In Hotel on Jl. Padjajaran; and Bambu In
motel and Pondok Nirmala on Jl. Raya Kemang.

As of Thursday, tension was still evident in Bogor as well as
at several spots in the nearby Cipanas resort area of Puncak,
following attacks against similar establishments earlier last
month and the mass "anti-vice" rally on Tuesday.

The mountainous area of Puncak and Bogor have long been
favorite weekend spots for Jakartans. In the past few years they
have witnessed a mushrooming growth of new hotels, nightclubs,
discotheques, dancing halls, motels and villas.

Local people have accused such places of being centers of drug
dealing, prostitution and gambling.

Rukanda said, "In a bid to anticipate further disputes, the
administration has indeed summoned the management of the places.

"They have been ordered to hang 'anti narcotic, liquor and
prostitution' banners outside their establishments to avoid
possible frenzied attacks by mobs."

So far, several nightspots in Bogor have already fulfilled the
summons by posting such signs in front of their premises, he
said.

Besides hanging banners, the management, through event
coordinators and disc jockeys, must urge visitors not be involved
in drug dealing or prostitution when in the buildings, he said.

"We also hope that owners of the establishment will comply
with the order and close them down for the whole fasting month,"
Rukanda said.

Ramadhan this year is expected to start next Thursday.

Rukanda, however, admitted that it was impossible to shut down
the entertainment spots for the entire fasting month because many
people, including the people employed in such places, would
suffer.

"The workers are expecting money to celebrate Idul Fitri," he
said.

Moreover, the existing regulation stipulates that the
entertainment spots must be closed for only three days before
Ramadhan begins and three days after Idul Fitri.

"While in the fasting month, it all depends on the business
owners. Let's just hope that everything goes peacefully," he
said.

Dozens of angry rioters destroyed and burned 13 hotels and
entertainment centers in Cipayung and Cisarua subdistricts in
November, following reports they were used as brothels and
centers for drug distribution.

More than 2,000 workers lost their jobs as a result of the
rioting.

A similar attack occurred in the nearby town of Bekasi on
Monday, where at least 20 houses allegedly used as brothels were
ransacked and three kiosks were set on fire by a 500-strong mob.

Up until Thursday police have not yet made any arrests.

Bogor Police also have been unable to identify the people who
burned and destroyed the hotels and night spots in Cipayung and
Cisarua, saying that "the attack was a collective movement".
(21/edt)