Three discos to be closed

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Governor Sutiyoso ordered the City Public Order Office on Tuesday to close three discotheques in the downtown Kota area, West Jakarta, for illegally operating during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

"If they are found to be operating during Ramadhan, they should be closed. I have ordered the public order office to close the entertainment venues," Sutiyoso said at City Hall.

He said the discotheques, located on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, could not operate even though they claimed to have converted their operations into cafes during Ramadhan.

Earlier this month, Governor Sutiyoso issued a decree prohibiting some venues, such as nightclubs, massage parlors and discotheques, from operating during the fasting month.

The decree allows karaoke bars, live music venues, bars and cafes to operate between 8:30 p.m. (after the Tarawih evening prayer) and 1:30 a.m. (before the predawn meal).

Separately, public order office head Firman Hutajulu admitted that three discotheques in West Jakarta had violated the decree.

"We will take action against them. We are still investigating the reports," Firman said, refusing to name the discotheques.

On Monday, the Islam Defender's Front (FPI) revealed that some discotheques in West Jakarta had changed their signage, identifying themselves as cafes instead of discotheques in order to avoid the ban.

The group threatened to conduct raids against the venues if they refused to close down.

Sutiyoso urged parties not to take action into their own hands or they would also face prosecution.

"If they conduct anarchic actions, they will face our officers," the governor said.

He thanked FPI for providing information, but urged them to let the city administration deal with the problem.

In past years, FPI has frequently conducted violent raids on cafes and other venues but police have never taken any action against them.