Dozens of Buddhist college students on Thursday sealed an exclusive lounge
and restaurant-type bar in Central Jakarta,
after negotiating with the bar's management.
"We've sealed the Buddha-Bar and it will remain closed until the matter is
resolved. The management team has also agreed not to open the bar,"
Indonesian Buddhist Students Association (AMB) representative Widodo said, as
quoted by kompas.com.
According to Widodo, the Jakarta administration had
issued a letter to France
regarding protests against the Jakarta
branch of Buddha-Bar, a famous hotel, restaurant and music chain run by the
France-based George V Hotels and Resorts.
The bar's local management had also filed a request for a name change, he said.
"So, until the issue is resolved, the bar will stay shut," Widodo said.
AMB's protest against the Buddha-Bar is based on the groups dissatisfaction at the
bar's use of Buddhism that they perceive contrary to Buddhist teachings.
The name "Buddha", Widodo said, carries sublime meanings that are not
appropriate to be paired with words like "bar" that are associated with venues
where alcohol is served and where people get drunk.
"The bar itself is also filled with Buddhist symbols and artifacts. Its
presence is offensive to the Buddhist community in Indonesia," he said.
Buddha-Bar Jakarta branch is the George V chain's first restaurant in Asia,
following successes in London, New
York, Dubai, Sao
Paulo, Kiev, Cairo
and Beirut.
(amr)
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