Cafes keep their heads down to respect Muslims

Many Jakarta cafes and restaurants remain open (and some even serve beer) during the fasting month, but they try to operate discreetly in respect of Muslims and in fear of raids by hard-line groups.

A bar and restaurant on Jl. Wahid Hasyim, Central Jakarta, serves beer but keeps the bottles out of sight. When a customer orders a large bottle of beer, he or she is served the drink in two mugs.

“We do this to prevent hard-line protests,” waiter Deden said.

“I know it’s ridiculous, because the mugs have beer brands stamped on them anyway. But it is better to serve beer in mugs during Ramadan because as long as no beer bottles are around, we are safe,” he said.

“We don’t want the FPI [Islam Defenders Front] to attack us,” he told The Jakarta Post, referring to a hard-line group infamous for its violent raids on nightclubs during the fasting month.

Deden added that the cafe also closed earlier, normally between midnight and 1 a.m., instead of 3 a.m.

Showing a similar gesture, KL Village, a cafe on Jl. Jaksa, Central Jakarta, puts shades on its windows and surrounding its open area.

“My boss told me that we have to put shades on the restaurant during Ramadan because its required by the city administration,” waitress Putri said.

The 2004 City Bylaws on Tourism prohibits nightclubs, bars and massage parlors from operating during Ramadan. The rules refer to bars as places which serve alcoholic beverages.

The 2004 gubernatorial decree regulates the operating hours of night time entertainment centers such as karaoke halls during Ramadan.

Dian Aryanti, whose office is located in the Skyline building in Central Jakarta, said that she appreciated that many cafes in the area put up shades to respect Muslims.

“I appreciate that they respect those that are fasting. However, many other places, such as cafes at the Grand Indonesia in Central Jakarta and Senayan City in South Jakarta do not put up shades, and I’m OK with it,” she said.

“It depends on each person’s faith. We are all grown ups. Actually, we don’t need discreetness like that,” she added.

Tito Triputra, a regular patron of cafes and bars along Jl. Jaksa, said that as the majority, religious respect should begin with Muslims themselves.

“Shades or no shades, it doesn’t matter. These cafes never intend to disrespect Muslims,” he said, adding that the city bylaw on restaurants, cafes and entertainment centers during Ramadan was unclear. (ipa)