Police raid raises serious questions
Cameron Bates and Damar Harsanto The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The flashing strobe lights and lasers accompanying the beats of Indonesia's most promising DJs at a dance music festival in Jakarta overnight Saturday were replaced with the harsh spotlights of television cameras and the faces of brown-uniformed police officers.
Within minutes, more than 1,000 music lovers of all ages were herded from four dance floors within the Club Rasuna complex in Kuningan and shown the door, their party cut rudely short.
On Monday, organizers of Rhythm Unity were still struggling to understand events surrounding its closure, and pondering the impact on future events featuring Indonesian DJs.
Setiabudi Police chief Comr. Kusdiantoro, who led the raid, at different times, has cited a number of reasons for the closure, including drug abuse, illegal alcohol sales, permit breaches and noise complaints.
Attacks by an unidentified group of men outside the club was not given as grounds for the closure. In fact, Kusdiantoro denied any attacks had even taken place.
Witnesses spoken to The Jakarta Post on Monday said most of the 38 police officers providing security at the Ministry of Tourism-sanctioned party, left their posts just prior to 1:30 a.m., Sunday morning, 30 minutes before its scheduled close.
Within minutes, a group of about 20 men who had gathered outside the club began randomly attacking concertgoers.
In a suspiciously rapid response, a second group of police officers, led by Kusdiantoro, arrived. Though it is not clear when Kusdiantoro arrived himself, witnesses said the response team stood by as the drunk thugs continued their violence, including throwing bottles and stealing five bags containing mobile phones and an unknown amount of cash during an attack on the ticket booth.
Kusdiantoro, the son-in-law of National Police Chief Da'i Bachtiar, ignored the rioters and, with cameras in tow, set his sights on the party, closing it.
Media sources later told the Post that Kusdiantoro had told the news crews about his intentions hours before the raid.
One of the six organizers, Anton Wiryono, a prominent local DJ, refused to comment on witness reports that the thugs had admitted to have been hired for a stage-managed publicity stunt.
He apologized to those who had paid Rp 65,000 to attend the concert, particularly those subjected to violence.
Frederick Alloysius, the quality controller for Aphrodite, a fully-licensed bar and restaurant within but separate from Club Rasuna, said the organizers had all the necessary permits and permission from local residents. Community members had also provided additional security.
Contacted Monday, Kusdiantoro said the organizers had ignored public protests, had misused the permit by staging a dance party and were simply serving their own interests in holding the event.
"This is the second time Club Rasuna management have ignored the public. Early this year, the management ... ignored public complaints."
Kusdiantoro denied the attacks had occurred.
"There have been no such reports to police," he claimed.
Organizers said they were fearful that corporate sponsorship of dance events from a number of high-profile companies would be withdrawn following the incident.