Youths call for nightspot closure

Youths call for nightspot closure

JAKARTA (JP): Around 150 students grouped in the Pemuda
Pancasila youth organization have urged city councilors to
immediately close all entertainment spots here that are allegedly
used for drug transactions and prostitution.

The youths, who said they were members of the Pemuda
Pancasila's Students and College Students Union, submitted their
demands during a noisy but peaceful rally at the City Council
office on Thursday.

Some of the placards and banners carried by the protesters
read: "Drugs, Narcotics, Ecstasy, Low-grade heroin are forbidden
and destroy the youths' morals" and "Destroy discotheques and
nightspots operating in Jakarta".

Another poster named some of the entertainment spots with
which they have a gripe.

Ten representatives of the group were received by nine
councilors.

The group's coordinator, Anhar Nasution, told the councilors
that the major cause of the country's political difficulties was
moral destruction.

"One of the factors that has destroyed morals (of many people)
is the present misuse of entertainment spots," he said.

In response, councilor Saamin said the council would hold a
dialog on the case soon together with the city administration and
the protesters.

Hotels, discotheques, pubs, massage parlors and game arcades
here are sometimes associated with prostitution, drugs and
gambling.

The protesters said that operators were able to run their
businesses smoothly as a result of routinely bribing a great
number of officials and the executives of several institutions,
including a certain youth organization. (ind)