Sutiyoso has an each-way bet

Sutiyoso has an each-way bet

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Even though he publicly announced his support for the current
campaign against gambling, Governor Sutiyoso expressed doubt on
Tuesday that police would succeed in stamping out the practice in
the country.

"We have repeatedly launched similar eradication measures in
the past ... but gambling still continues. We need to evaluate
policies," Sutiyoso stated publicly after a meeting with
finalists of the city's 2005 beauty pageant competition, Abang
None, at City Hall.

Sutiyoso, who was accompanied by City Council speaker Ade
Surapriatna, said his administration as well as the council had
lent their full support to the campaign launched by National
Police Chief Gen. Sutanto to crack down on gambling in the
country.

"But, we're all awaiting whether or not the National Police
chief will really be consistent with his commitment," he said.

Sutanto has a track record of being stern on gambling. Last
week, he set a one-week deadline for provincial police chiefs to
eradicate gambling in their areas. Those chiefs who failed to
comply with the order could face either dismissal or criminal
charges.

Jakarta police claimed on Monday that they had managed to
close down all gambling dens in the city despite widespread
skepticism among the public over the claim.

Sutiyoso said that if the police failed to eradicate it, his
administration and the council needed to seek alternative
measures to cope with gambling in the capital.

"The council is now carrying out a series of surveys and
studies in other countries," he said.

However, he was quick to deny suggestions that one of the
alternative measures was to legalize gambling in the capital.

The idea to legalize gambling at designated areas was floated
again early this year by former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, who
made his name by legalizing gambling in the city during his
tenure from 1966 to 1977.

Despite opposition from religious leaders, Ali legalized
gambling and the huge amount of city tax revenue gained was used
to finance development projects in the city.

Ali highlighted Jakarta's status as an international city,
which hosts foreigners who sometimes need "a place, like a
casino, nightclub or bar in which to spend their evenings after
work."

The Thousand Islands is one of the places repeatedly mentioned
to become restricted gambling centers in the city. The
Association of Indonesian Entertainment Centers (Aspehindo)
estimates that illegal gambling has a massive turnover of Rp 200
billion a day.

Meanwhile, Ade Surapriatna revealed that the council was
looking into the possibility of establishing an anti-gambling
body to help contain gambling practices.

"The body will be assigned to help eradicate gambling in the
city," he said.

According to the law, all forms of gambling are a crime. Those
who break the law will be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years'
imprisonment or fined up to Rp 10 million.