Tangerang entertainment center vandalized

Tangerang entertainment center vandalized

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of residents damaged Shing-Shing Soo
entertainment center in Jatake village, Jatiuwung district, on
Monday night in protest over its reopening after being closed
down by the authorities.

They strongly protested the existence of the entertainment
spot, which was equipped with a restaurant and karaoke lounge, as
it was believed to have been frequently used as an undercover
prostitution center.

The crowd reportedly started attacking the entertainment spot
at about 9:30 p.m. when many customers were flocking to the
center. They emotionally burned one of the employees' motorcycles
and broke bottles, tables and chairs, thereby causing customers
to flee in panic.

"I was forced to save myself for fear of being hit by the
angry crowd," Rusdi, one of the protesters, said.

Their action stopped only after a group of police officers and
soldiers were deployed to the incident site. "After briefing
them, the crowd dispersed and went home," said Capt. Sigit S,
commander of the police officers.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto Iskandar
deplored the incident, saying that the crowd should not damage
the goods belonging to the entertainment center.

He said that police were still searching for the mastermind of
the protest. "The police are also questioning owners of the
entertainment center over who gave an order for the reopening of
the closed center." (41/hhr)