Police vow to stop illegal raids on nightspots
Leony Aurora and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta Police deployed 600 Mobile Brigade members and 500 officers to patrol the streets on Saturday, as a preventive measure against more raids on nightspots during Ramadhan.
Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Saturday that chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani had ordered that legal action be taken against people conducting raids, as their actions were in violation of the law.
His statement was given in response to a raid by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in Kemang, an area in South Jakarta famous for its numerous restaurants and cafes, late on Friday evening.
The militants broke into the Star Deli at about 11:30 p.m., a bar/restaurant that had closed early for the night, by destroying its rolling door and smashing its windows.
They said that the restaurant, which serves alcoholic drinks, should close for the whole of Ramadhan.
Star Deli owner Mary Prikusumadewi, said that a policeman from Pasar Minggu subprecinct had visited the restaurant on Friday afternoon to warn its management of a possible raid by the FPI. Dozens of police officers also arrived two hours prior to the attack and insisted that the restaurant close early.
"The police knew that the FPI was coming, why couldn't they stop or redirect them?" said Mary.
The aggressive mob had proceeded along Jl. Kemang before they were stopped near Barbados restaurant by local residents, who managed to damage three of the FPI's cars and two motorcycles.
According to witnesses, the police arrived shortly afterward and the crowd dispersed.
Chairman of the Kemang Community Forum Darmawan, said that the neighborhood would be more prepared for further attacks, which were rumored to take place on Saturday night.
"We don't want this neighborhood, where we make our livings, to be destroyed. We will defend it with all our might," he said.
FPI leader Jafar Sidiq affirmed that the raids would continue, since "the authority is lax in its supervision".
For the last three years, the FPI has regularly raided nightclubs and bars in the fasting month.
Governor Sutiyoso issued a decree in 2004 on businesses in the tourist sector, stating that billiard halls, karaoke bars and live music bars that share an area or a building are allowed to open during Ramadhan from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sutiyoso has repeatedly said that only the police or appointed government institutions have the authority to raid entertainment centers.
Several other raids occurred in Tangerang, Bekasi, and Depok last week. Bekasi Police detained eight suspects last Sunday for allegedly setting fire to several stalls, which the arsonists had assumed were selling liquor.
The Tangerang Police were also searching for those responsible for damage to a handful of establishments, including a billiard hall, on Thursday night.