Tangerang 'bans' liquor, prostitution

Tangerang 'bans' liquor, prostitution

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Tangerang Municipal Council has endorsed bylaws banning the
sale of alcoholic drinks and prostitution, but activists doubt if
local authorities will have the courage to actually implement the
laws.

"Learning from past experience, many bylaws caused hot debate
before they were endorsed, but then turned into paper tigers
after the Council passed them," Mulyadi, chairman of Tangerang
Islamic Ukuwah Forum (FUIT), said on Tuesday.

He cited bylaws banning pedicabs and street vendors on main
roads as examples of local authorities' poor record in enforcing
regulations.

"Pedicabs still operate freely on all main roads, while street
vendors have never gone away from the municipality," said
Wahyudi, urging mayor Wahidin Halim to take stern action against
violators.

Imron Khamami, coordinator of Pattiro Advocation Division,
voiced similar doubts about local authorities' seriousness in
implementing the regulations.

He urged mayor Wahidin to form a police-backed task force to
monitor the bylaws' implementation.

The liquor bylaw bans the distribution and sale of alcoholic
drink, except in three-, four- and five-star hotels and
designated restaurants for on-the-spot consumption.

Violators may face imprisonment of up to three months or a
fine of up to Rp 50 million (US$5,000).

The antiprostitution bylaw, on the other hand, bans people,
either in public streets or places visible from public streets or
places where people can enter, from persuading or forcing other
people, either by words or signs, into acts of prostitution.

It also bans public intimacy, hugs and/or kissing that may
arouse sexual activity, either in public places or places visible
to the public such as hotels, restaurants, entertainment centers
or prostitution areas.