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.