Paras Indonesia, September, 21 2006 @ 10:53 pm
FPI Threatens Ramadhan Raids
By: Roy Tupai
The radical Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), notorious for attacking nightlife venues in
Jakarta, has again threatened to take the law into its own hands if the city
administration fails to ensure that bars and nightclubs close down for the upcoming
Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, which starts on September 24.
Also threatening to conduct Ramadhan raids is the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR),
a thugs-for-hire group that purports to protect the rights of the capital city's indigenous
residents.
FPI spokesman Alawi Usman said Thursday (21/9/06) his organization would not
stage any raids, known as sweeping operations, if the city administration ensures that
entertainment venues are closed. "We promise not to do any sweeping, but we will
continue to supervise," he was quoted as saying by detikcom online news portal.
He said that if FPI does conduct raids, they will not be at random, but will target
venues that have ignored warnings to close down for the holy month. He said the
management of any venue that is found to remain open will first receive a warning
letter and a letter will also be sent to police, requesting the place be shut down. If the
warning letters are not heeded by the managers or the police, then FPI will take
matters into its own hands, he explained.
Usman was speaking at Hotel Borobudur, which is part-owned by tycoon and alleged
underworld figure Tomy Winata. The hotel has always managed to keep its bars open
during Ramadhan because star-rated hotels are exempt from municipal regulations on
reduced hours of operation for entertainment centers during the fasting month.
FBR secretary general Danail Alhaz, also speaking at Hotel Borobudur, said his
organization was prepared to conduct raids if city authorities fail to enforce the
Ramadhan regulations. "As long as the government does not act, we will conduct
sweeping," he said.
The rules on operating hours for entertainment venues over Ramadhan are outlined in
Jakarta Regional Regulation No.10/2004 on tourism and Jakarta Gubernatorial Decree
No.98/2004.
Nightclubs, discos, bars, saunas, massage parlors, gaming centers and brothels are
prohibited from operating during Ramadhan. But many of the city's nightspots get
around the ban by posing as cafes, restaurants, live music venues and karaoke joints,
which are generally permitted to operate during the month from 8.30pm to 12.30am –
except over six days considered especially holy. Those six days come at the
beginning, middle and end of Ramadhan.
Over the past four years, police have been noticeably stricter in forcing bars to close
after midnight during Ramadhan, although a few venues still manage to remain open,
catering to the needs of the city's alcoholics and lechers.
FPI was established in August 1998 and soon became notorious for attacking bars,
nightclubs, brothels, pool halls and other entertainment venues deemed an affront to
Islam. The organization significantly toned down its violent activities after the October
2002 Bali nightclub bombings. Prior to the terror attack, authorities had generally
turned a blind eye to FPI's raids on nightspots, lending credence to claims the
organization was backed by powerful officials in the security forces.
FBR was founded in July 2000, ostensibly to help indigenous Jakarta residents find
employment. The well-funded organization has always denied claims that it serves as
a paramilitary group doing the dirty work of Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso. Yet it has
been involved in evicting the urban poor from land sought for development projects.
FBR has also been accused of being a rent-a-mob organization, particularly for rallies
with strong Islamic themes. In recent years, FBR has attacked bars and cafes owned
by non-Betawi, accusing such places of encouraging immorality; yet it turns a blind
eye to bars that provide "donations" (critics call the payments "protection money") to
its members.
MUI Says No to Raids
The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the nation's top authority on Islamic matters,
on Thursday said it does not support plans by mass Islamic organizations to "sweep"
entertainment venues over Ramadhan.
MUI chairman Umar Shihab warned that any violence would only exacerbate
problems. "MUI will not tolerate violence. Let the law enforcement authorities deal with
closures," he said.
He said the government should help to prevent any raids by Islamic groups by
ensuring that nightlife areas are closed over Ramadhan. He said priority should be
given to entertainment centers that encourage pornography and phonographic actions.
"If it's only a family karaoke hall, it need be closed."
Shihab also said the government should ensure that street vendors and cafes do not
openly sell food during fasting hours. "If the government is quiet and does not stress
this, it could trigger a reaction from the community," he said.
MUI has also advised that television networks should not show any "offensive"
programs over Ramadhan, such as gossip shows and those that are sexually
suggestive.
Ramadhan Rules
About 89% of Indonesia's 220 million people are Muslims, but many do not strictly
follow the tenets of Islam, preferring to combine the religion with traditional spiritual
and cultural beliefs.
Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink, smoke, curse and engage in sexual intercourse
from sunrise until sunset during the fasting month.
It is also forbidden to: masturbate; have wet dreams; apply medication via the anus;
swallow any non-food substances (flies that accidentally enter the mouth don't count);
pour oil into the ears; consume phlegm (drinking saliva is permitted, as long as it not
mixed with blood); induce vomiting; and apply drops of medicine into the nostrils.
Furthermore, women must not undergo medical tests that involve instruments being
inserted into the vagina.
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