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Liquor businessmen in Papua protest ban, will file lawsuit
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Prohibited -- Members of the Navy's elite frogmen command (Kopaska) and Sea Security Force from Western Fleet Quick Response IV check the cargo of the KM Kawal Bahari 1 and the KM Kharisma Indah at the Lantamal IV Port at Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands on March 20. The two boats were arrested when sailing from Singapore and hiding 500 sacks of sugar, 1,000 sacks of rice, 50 boxes of cigarettes, 4,000 cases of alcohol and several other types of goods. (Antara/M. N Kanwa)
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number of liquor businesspeople in Jayapura, Papua, are protesting Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe’s policy to ban the distribution of alcoholic beverages in the province.
They are set to file a lawsuit against the policy with the Jayapura State Administrative Court (PTUN) as they consider it contradicts existing rules.
“We will file a lawsuit at the PTUN against the governor over his alcoholic beverage confiscation procedures, which just look like an expropriation because it can be conducted without any confiscation order letter, while we have a legal permit for distributing alcoholic beverages,” said Jason Muabuay, head of the Association of Alcoholic Beverage Vendors and Night Entertainment Owners in Jayapura.
Jason expressed his concerns during a meeting at the Jayapura Legislative Council (DPRD), which was attended by a number of alcoholic beverage businesspeople and distributors and hotel owners and administrators. In the meeting, they conveyed their disappointment over the confiscations and searches conducted by a task force formed by Enembe.
Jason said his association plans to meet Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Trade Minister Thomas Lembong to question the Papuan governor’s measure, which the latter claimed was based on an integrity pact he issued. According to the governor, the integrity pact was in turn based on a 2013 bylaw on alcohol prohibition.
“The issuance of a bylaw must be followed by a governor's decree as its implementing regulation. Thus, all businessmen can have enough time for preparations so they will be ready once the bylaw on the alcohol ban takes effect,” said Josua.
He said vendors and distributors needed time to finish their stocks so they would not suffer great losses once the policy was valid.
Jason said the integrity pact was only a commitment, which was not legally binding. “This cannot be used as a basis to carry out the confiscations,” he said, adding that any government policy would be supported as long as it did not inflict losses upon the people.
Jayapura Legislative Council member Kristian Kondobua said it was the right of the association to file a lawsuit against the Papuan governor. “It’s your right to take a legal measure against his policy,” said Kristian.
Businesspeople in Jayapura say alcohol sales have dropped sharply since the task force intensified liquor searches in entertainment places and alcohol warehouses on Friday.
Some Jayapura residents applauded Enembe’s policy, saying that since alcohol searches were conducted intensively, very few drunken people could be found on streets across Jayapura.
“I take passengers to the airport every morning. I used to see drunken people, some of whom lay on the street, but in the last several days, I didn’t see them,” said Yonas, a driver.
“Now, I dare to take a morning walk on the street because there is no more drunken people. I used to have a morning walk only in areas near my house,” said Ludia, a local resident.
Separately, Enembe said he did not fear the association’s plan to file a lawsuit against him. “I’m not afraid. We made this policy because we have a special bylaw, which clearly regulates alcohol distribution. If they want to sue me, just go ahead,” said the governor. (ebf)
