Security committee fo nightspots to be formed

JAKARTA (JP): Nightspot operators are forming a committee with officials from related city institutions next month to monitor security at their premises following recent incidents of mob violence and vandalism, a prospective committee executive said on Saturday.

Secretary general of the Indonesian Association of Entertainment Center Owners (Aspehindo), Adrian Maelite, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that funding for the committee was expected to come from the city budget since entertainment spots regularly provided revenue to the administration.

"The committee, however, will not have any authority to take action against any violators. It will only report its findings to the authorities," Adrian said.

He said committee members would first warn operators who were found violating existing laws or city regulations.

"We (nightspot operators) don't want to be made victims on account of delinquent operators," he added.

Adrian explained that the team members would consist of personnel from the Jakarta Police and other related institutions in the capital, such as the Tourist Agency, Revenue Agency, Public Order Office, Social Development Office, the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Jakarta).

The committee, he added, would also help police stop drug distribution at nightspots.

"We can't just give all the responsibility to the police. This is a coordinated effort by entertainment operators to cleanse drugs from our premises," he said.

"On the other hand, we also demand police act promptly upon our reports. The police always say that they know nothing of such cases. Now that we'll report the cases to them the police must take stern action," added Adrian.

Adrian said each of the some 200 licensed entertainment centers in the committee, such as discotheques, pubs and karaoke halls, would be allowed to send three to five representatives to the committee, depending upon the size of their businesses.

"Larger centers could send more," he said.

The operation of the committee, he said, would be financed by the nightspot operators.

"But we also expect a subsidy from the city administration because we also contribute money to the budget," he said.

"The most important thing is that our operation will enable thousands of workers to earn a living. It means we are helping the economic gears to move," he added.

A number of groups, including those attired in the uniform of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), have recently attacked venues they consider vice centers. These arbitrary actions by the front's activists have been criticized by residents.

"Jakarta as the capital city should have entertainment places that operate all night long," Adrian said, before expressing the association's wish to be allowed to run its businesses during the Muslim Ramadhan fasting month.

"We are talking about employment here and feeding our employees and their families," he argued.

Governor Sutiyoso has banned bars, discos and other nightspots from operating in previous fasting months.

Adrian guaranteed that the committee members would not hide any violations found, saying they wanted to maintain a good image.

"We will use a persuasive approach on operators who, for example, are exceeding the 2 a.m. closing period," he said.

"It's our intention to get rid of defiant operators tarnishing our image. We don't want to be the target of public anger," he said. (nvn)