'See alcohol rulings from both sides'

'See alcohol rulings from both sides'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher has
asked provincial governments and legislators to be heedful of the
aspirations of Moslem communities regarding the decree on
alcoholic beverages.

Tarmizi said, however, it is also important to pay attention
to other religious groups as well as foreign tourists, who are
allowed to drink alcohol.

"Therefore, this matter should be seen from both sides and all
parties should be attentive to all aspirations," Tarmizi was
quoted by Antara news agency as saying yesterday.

"The new regulation must be perfect so as not to imply that
the government approves of the spread of alcohol among the
people," he said.

The sale of alcohol in Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic
country, is legal.

The minister was commenting on Moslem leaders' protests to the
Jakarta administration over the provincial decree concerning the
distribution of alcohol which was agreed to by city councilors
last month. The protesters demanded that the administration
revoke the decree. Some other provinces are reportedly discussing
bills on alcoholic drinks.

Amin Rais, leader of the second biggest Moslem organization,
Muhammadiyah, said yesterday there should have been campaigns
against the use of alcohol here to save the young generation.

"What is happening now is the opposite. Efforts to legalize or
socialize alcohol distribution should have been converted into
campaigns against it," Rais said in Medan yesterday.

The controversy over the liquor decree began after the Jakarta
Legislative Council passed a bill on alcoholic beverages which
rules the imposition of new fees on alcohol distribution.

The decree was meant to replace provincial decree No.9/1971 on
alcoholic beverage taxes which only imposes the tax on shops that
sell the liquor.

The new decree imposes a distribution fee and stipulates a
liquor distribution quota in the city.

Moslem leaders saw the decree as an effort to legalize alcohol
in the city.

The United Development Party (PPP) faction at the Jakarta
Council said it had no choice but to approve the bill because
other factions had already approved it.

PPP Chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum told reporters yesterday
the party will warn the faction at the council.

"I think the faction has made a mistake," he said.

Misunderstanding

Deputy Governor on Economic and Administration Affairs Tb. M.
Rais said that public protests are merely caused by
misunderstanding and misinformation.

He said the main goal of the decree is to control the
distribution of alcoholic beverages in the city.

"The decree is created to control the beverages distribution
by setting a quota," he said.

The wave of protests still continued yesterday when 30
students from the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Moslem
Association went to the city council condemning the new
provincial decree, which is now at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Waving banners condemning the decree and alcohol, the students
made their way into the council building's lobby. Some of them
read petitions.

City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga told the students in the
hearing that it's impossible to ban the beverages in the city.
"There will be alcoholic drinks illegally sold here in the
future," he said.

The students' spokesman, Ahmad Gazali Baadila, said that they
still could not accept the decree and would continue to fight
against it.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council
(MUI) Ali Yafie said in Surabaya that MUI will not compromise
with the city administration or any parties in this matter.

Citing the ban on liquor sales in Saudi Arabia, Ali said that
the country has different regulations from Indonesia, which
houses people from non-Islamic religions.

"Banning alcohol in Indonesia is not the best solution.
Restricting production permits and distribution permits will be
the best way," he added.

In a related development, Lt. Col. Gories Mere, secretary of
the Jakarta crime investigation directorate, called upon officers
of the city administration to be tougher in controlling the
distribution of alcoholic drinks in the city.

"Our clean-up operation will be useless if the distribution
and supply of the beverages are not properly controlled by the
executives," the senior detective told The Jakarta Post
yesterday.

"There will be no problem for the officers to arrest a
drunkard who commits a crime. The problem is: Why are there still
alcoholic drinks available at many stores here?" he said.

When asked to comment, the newly appointed head of the
Tangerang police precinct, Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna, said: "We've
planned to carry out a massive operation against alcoholic drinks
this week in my area."

According to the former Jakarta police spokesman, the crime
rate in Tangerang was partly due to crimes committed by drunken
suspects.

"That's why we need a serious operation to weaken this major
problem," he said. (yns/bsr)

Editorial -- Page 4