Issues of the day: Police ban private raids during Ramadhan

Paper Edition | Page: 8

July 17, p. 1

The Jakarta Police said on Monday that they would forbid mass organizations from conducting raids on the city’s nightlife and entertainment venues during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, as the organizations have no right to do so.

“Only the police have the right to raid nightclubs that remain open during Ramadhan. No mass organization has such rights,” police spokesman, Sr. Comr. Rikwanto, told reporters.

The city’s culture and tourism agency said earlier this month that it would ban nightlife and entertainment venues from operating during Ramadhan, starting from the eve of the fasting month until one day after Idul Fitri. Such banned spots include nightclubs, spas, saunas, massage parlors, arcade game centers and bars (either stand-alone bars or those located within other establishments).

In recent years, Greater Jakarta has seen numerous instances of mass organizations holding raids on nightlife venues throughout the area.

Your comments:

How are we going to stop the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) from raiding people without police permission given the fact that they are with the police and the
government?

S. Muslim

I would like to remind all the netters here, let us be more objective in passing judgment on the FPI; that the actions of the FPI may not be due merely to the FPI wanting to be “village” superheroes but rather the nation’s chronic polemic against public confidence in law enforcement.

Faiz

I wonder which legal source is used to ban nightlife spots during Ramadhan. Actually, there is no reason to follow these bans. So, how about the rest of the population who are not Muslims? It just means that they have to live like they’re fasting, too. Every year the same story, over and over and over again!

Robert L. Stevenson

Ramadhan is the Islamic holy month. So, my fellow Muslims, I want to advise you to be good people during Ramadhan and the month after.

Abubakar Sani

Whatever people may say, in my opinion the FPI has positioned itself as a pressure group in Indonesia, which has contributed to influencing the country’s leaders to actively take a role in improving and maintaining Muslims’ morale and faith as well as taking the initiative in building social, political and legal infrastructure, which is in line with Islamic Sharia.

Ahmed Lats

Same old story recycled. Let’s see if this article proves to be true later on.

Herry