Police raid raises serious questions

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.