Vigilante vandalism rears ugly head again
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta Police announced on Friday that they objected to the the recent vandalism by at least two known vigilante groups who have been conducting raids and trashing entertainment spots across Greater Jakarta during Ramadhan fasting month.
Bekasi Police, which falls under the leadership of Jakarta, detained eight suspects for allegedly setting fire to several warung (small shops) suspected by the arsonists of selling liquor and dealing in other vices in Bekasi on Sunday night.
The Tangerang Police were also hunting for suspects involved in destroying a handful of establishments, including a billiard hall, in Tangerang on Thursday night.
"I have repeatedly said that only the police have the authority to raid entertainment spots that do not comply with a city bylaw and gubernatorial decree. The raids are a violation of the regulations, especially if there is vandalism and destruction of property involved," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Friday.
Tjiptono pointed out that the willful destruction of private property was actually a violation of the law in Tangerang, especially since the entertainment spots were closed as the raids took place.
"They (the perpetrators) will be charged with Article 170 of the Criminal Code on openly and deliberately inciting social unrest leading to destruction of other people's property," he said.
The offense carries a maximum penalty of 5.5 years in prison.
Law No. 9/1998 stipulates that people who want to express their opinion openly in public have to report the schedule and venue of their rally/demonstration to the nearest police department.
"Groups like FPI (Islam Defenders Front) or FBR (Betawi Brotherhood Forum) have never informed us of their schedule (to express their opinion in public)," Tjiptono added, while hinting that they were the suspects in the raids.
FPI had warned that it would "sweep" night spots during Ramadhan if the operators did not comply the laws.
The warning, however, was responded to in a seemingly mild way by the police, who said that controlling businesses that violated law was the police's duty.
Sources at the city police revealed that the city police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani had held several meetings with the FPI and FBR. However, it was not clear what conclusions were reached during those meetings.
Firman was scheduled to attend a breaking the fast gathering with some FPI leaders at a mosque in Pancoran, South Jakarta, on Friday evening. But, the plan was canceled at the last minute without explanation.