'Why don't the groups raid gambling dens?'

'Why don't the groups raid gambling dens?'

After five days of relative silence, the Jakarta Police claimed
they knew of four suspects involved in the attack against Star
Deli bar/restaurant in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Oct. 22.
However, they are still roaming freely on the streets. The
Jakarta Post asked some residents about their views on the issue.

Iskandar, 42, is a taxi driver. He lives with his family in
Cileungsi, Bekasi:

Why do these mobs raid places like restaurants, bars and
billiard halls? Why not gambling dens? I have witnessed with my
own eyes, some gambling dens like that in Kampung Melayu, East
Jakarta, which have been openly operating during Ramadhan.

However, such raids just make life harder for me. I usually am
able to get lots of passengers in bustling nightspot areas, even
during Ramadhan, but now I can only expect to find passengers at
hospitals.

Islam never teaches us to conduct violence. In his fight to
propagate Islam, Prophet Muhammad always showed his kind heart
and manners to all people despite their religion or belief
system.

Leni Dwianti, 36, is a private English teacher. She lives in
Puri Serpong housing complex in Tangerang:

First of all, I must say that such actions by these groups of
people against nightspots is deplorable because they have taken
the law into their own hands. Whatever their reasons, such an
attack is unacceptable.

Therefore, the police must take action against them. I cannot
understand why this is still allowed to happen? I think the
police must immediately stop their violence, otherwise the group
will continue their vandalism.

At the same time, the police must also monitor the operation
of nightspots so those places do not violate any regulations on
opening hours. They must punish operators of the entertainment
centers that violate the law.

--The Jakarta Post