No raids during Ramadhan: Sutiyoso

No raids during Ramadhan: Sutiyoso

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Addressing the possibility that groups might attack nightspots
that remain open during Ramadhan, Governor Sutiyoso urged
Jakartans not to take the law into their own hands.

"I assure you that the enforcement of the regulation (on
entertainment centers in the city during Ramadhan) is in the
hands of public order officers and the police, not civilian
groups," Sutiyoso said on Thursday.

He was speaking during an event held to destroy over 41,000
bottles of liquor in the National Monument (Monas) park.

He said the public's job was to alert officers to any
violations by entertainment centers.

"I will punish any subordinates who fail to follow up
immediately any information from the public."

The new head of the City Public Order Agency, Haryanto
Badjuri, said the public's participation in the monitoring of
nightspots was necessary to make up for the city's lack of human
resources.

A 200-member team of public order officers, police officers
and employees of the City Tourism Agency will also monitor
entertainments centers during the fasting month.

"I guarantee that we will follow up all reports from the
public. I am ready to be fired if I am found to have allowed
violators to go unpunished," Badjuri said.

He said his agency would sanction nightspot owners found in
violation of the regulation, with punishments ranging from
official reprimands to the sealing off of their businesses.

"If necessary, we will annul operation permits," he said.

The tourism agency has sent out circulars to the owners
entertainment centers across the capital informing them of the
regulations governing their operating hours during the fasting
month.

Both Bylaw No. 10/2004 on tourism and Gubernatorial Decree No.
98/2004 on the operation of tourist-related businesses in Jakarta
ban nightclubs, discotheques, saunas, massage parlors, amusement
centers and bars from operating during Ramadhan.

The regulation excludes karaoke bars, live music bars and
billiard halls. These businesses are allowed to open after
Muslims perform the tarawih prayer at 8:30 p.m. and remain open
until 1:30 a.m.

However, karaoke bars, live music bars and billiard halls that
share space with entertainment centers that are banned from
operating during Ramadhan must also close during the month.

Entertainment centers in star-rated hotels are allowed to
operate as normal during the month of Ramadhan, except on seven
days -- the day before and the first day of Ramadhan, Nuzulul
Quran (the 17th day of Ramadhan, which marks the revelation of
the Koran), one day before Idul Fitri, the two days of Idul Fitri
and the day after Idul Fitri.

Nightspots in star-rated hotels are prohibited from posting
advertisements, posters and other advertising materials.

Jakarta is home to 1,271 registered entertainment centers,
most of which will be affected by the regulations.

Since January, the City Public Order Agency has taken action
against 25 entertainment centers for various violations.
Seventeen centers received warning letters, while eight are
facing closure.

The public can report violations to the public order agency at
telephone number: 3822212 or 3822912.