Two men questioned over burning of Ciawi nightspot

BOGOR (JP): Police were still questioning two men over the weekend who are believed to have incited hundreds of people to burn three entertainment spots in the popular Ciawi mountainous resort area here last Thursday.

Bogor regional police chief Col. Hari Setyabudhi said Saturday the men, whose identities are being withheld, were detained after intensive questioning of dozens of witnesses following the destruction of nightspots Duta Parahiangan II and Saung Kawita and a billiard center named Ibu Tutuk.

"Up to now, we have not named any suspects, but we believe the two men were the masterminds of the mayhem," Hari told media.

Hari quoted a witness as saying that hundreds of locals, mostly youngsters, were seen gathered in front of Duta Parahiangan at 9 p.m. The crowd grew rapidly in number.

Two hours later, the stone-carrying mob warned the patrons and workers at the nightspot and the two nearby places to leave because they were intent on destroying the buildings.

After determining the people had left, the mob stoned the buildings and set them on fire.

"The people were furious because owners of the entertainment spots have seemingly ignored the appeal from the local Moslem preachers and the regent's decision to stop operating," officer Hari said.

No injuries were reported and owners of the establishments were still calculating material losses.

About 140 Moslem preachers from Ciawi, Megamendung and Cisarua districts have repeatedly visited the regency and the city council, demanding the authorities permanently close down all entertainment spots in the area.

They argued the nightspots were fronts for vice and violated religious teachings.

Bogor Regent Eddie Yoso Martadipura decided earlier this month to temporarily close the establishments until an agreement was reached between the owners and the preachers.

No agreement has been reached and the regent has not lifted his decision, but some nightspots are apparently still operating.

Chief of the regional inspector Fauzi Si'in said he had sealed several establishments following the regent's decision.

But the buildings destroyed last week were among those that ignored the regent's decision.

"The operators should respect the aspirations of the local community who asked them to stop operating," Fauzi said. (ivy/24)