Workers threaten unrest over gambling den closure
Workers threaten unrest over gambling den closure
Fadli
The Jakarta Post
Batam, Riau
Tension has blanketed a part of Batam as hundreds of workers,
angered by the police closure of a casino in the resort area of
Tering Bay, have threatened to attack other casinos on the
industrial island in the Riau archipelago.
More than 500 workers and ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers from
Tering Bay marched to the local police station on Monday to
demand that either the casino be reopened or that other casinos
in Batam also be shut down.
Poniman, a 32-year-old security guard at Tering Bay, was one
of the protesters opposed to the closure of the casino, which he
said was their only source of income.
"We are asking the police to take this into account. If our
place of work is shut down, please close the other casinos in
Nagoya. They should not be allowed to stay open as that is
discrimination," he said.
As their demands were not immediately met, rumors circulated
that the protesters would launch attacks on several hotels and
nightclubs operating without a gambling permit.
The threat came in reaction to the casino's closure by police
on Friday following mounting pressure from religious leaders,
activists of non-governmental organizations and other local
community members to stop gambling.
Targets of possible attacks by the angry workers could include
the Good Way Hotel in Nagoya, which they said had long been
operating a casino.
In anticipation of a possible attack, plainclothes security
personnel kept the three-star hotel under tight guard, sparking
fresh tension in Nagoya and nearby areas.
Elsewhere across the city, other casino operators closed their
doors in fear of possible attacks amid the demonstration by the
workers and ojek drivers from Tering Bay in Nongsa subdistrict.
However, no violence was reported in Batam on Monday evening
after the protest.
Barelang Police chief Sr. Comr. Suhartono vowed to take firm
action against anyone attempting to spark unrest in Batam.
He said the police's move to stop gambling at Tering Bay was
because it was unlawful.
However, he rejected the protesters' demand to shut down other
casinos on the industrial island.
"We closed the casino at Tering Bay because its (gambling)
permit was illegal. But we cannot close other gambling spots as
many people there need that income to survive," Suhartono said.
During Friday's operation, led by Adj. Comr. Nasri, police
officers made no arrests.
The police have pledged to summon Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir for
questioning for his administration's decision last year to
legalize gambling in Tering Bay in cooperation with local private
company PT Dewa Menara Wisata as the management of the resort.
The mayor has refused to talk to journalists about the
controversial issue for several weeks. Spokesman Hartoyo Sirkoen
said Nyat Kadir would clarify the gambling issue with police.
"The mayor has told me that he has left the problem up to the
police and he is waiting for a summons," Hartoyo said.
Meanwhile, the deputy speaker of the Batam legislature,
Muhammad Nabil, backed the protesters' demand to shut down other
gambling spots on the island to prevent possible unrest.
The move would also avoid sparking jealousy among operators
and workers of casinos, he said.
"Raids on all casinos need to be carried out by police to
avoid accusations of discrimination," Nabil said.