The Jakarta Post, October 16, 2004
FPI plans to sweep nightspots starting Sunday evening
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A warning from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso apparently will not deter the Islam
Defenders Front (FPI) from organizing raids on nightspots in the capital during
Ramadhan.
The FPI announced on Friday it would begin sweeping nightspots on Sunday evening
as part of its self-appointed campaign to ensure these businesses remained closed
during the month.
FPI commander Jafar Sidiq was quoted by Detik.com as saying the owners of
nightspots in Jakarta's five municipalities would be "reprimanded" if they stayed open
during Ramadhan.
"We will still take action even if the owners are Muslim. For non-Muslims, including
tourists, they must respect the fasting month," he said.
Last week, Sutiyoso said he had met with Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman
Gani and asked the police to get tough on any groups that raided nightspots during
the fasting months.
The operation of nightspots is regulated in a bylaw and a gubernatorial decree.
Bylaw No. 10/2004 on tourism, which was passed on Aug. 11, stipulates that
nightclubs, discotheques, massage parlors and spas, except those in star-rated
hotels, must close the day before Ramadhan, on the first day of Ramadhan, the 17th
day of Ramadhan, which is the Koran Revelation Day, and the last day of the fasting
month to the day after Idul Fitri.
Gubernatorial Decree No. 98/2004 on businesses in the tourist sector, which was
issued on Oct. 11, regulates that billiard halls, karaoke bars and live music bars that
share an area or a building are allowed to open during Ramadhan from 8:30 p.m. to
1:30 a.m.
The decree also allows stand-alone billiard halls to remain open from 10 a.m. to
midnight during the fasting month.
Sutiyoso said raids on nightspots would only tarnish the city's image and mar the
peace of Ramadhan.
The city police are being cautious about commenting on the issue.
"The police or other appointed government institutions have the legal authority to raid
entertainment centers, as well as warn any managements that violate the bylaw," city
police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said.
He refused to comment on what the police would do if the FPI carried out its promise
to raid nightspots and entertainment centers.
"The public must trust the police and the administration to do their jobs," Tjiptono
said.
He said police precincts would be in charge of monitoring the operations of nightspots
and entertainment centers in their areas.
The FPI came to the public's attention about three years ago when it first began
raiding nightclubs and bars. FPI leader Habib Rizieq Shihab was sentenced to seven
months in prison last year for ordering members to vandalize nightclubs, bars and
cafes.
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