H

otel operators in Batam have condemned the local police for the frequent raids on hotel guests during Ramadan, arguing they are threatening the tourism industry in the region.

Since entering the fasting month on Aug. 22, many police precincts in Batam have been conducting raids on hotel guests for possible disturbance in public order and security, and have been taking into custody couples who are found sharing a room without proper marriage documents.

"We are confused regarding about the legal basis they are using to conduct such measures. If it is because of Ramadan, they are not moral police officers," chairman of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants' (PHRI) Batam City chapter, Sigit Budiharso, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

"They are just disturbing the guests' privacy and are at the same time threatening the tourism industry as they discourage tourists from coming to stay here."

Sigit said, based on a cooperation agreement between his organization and the Riau Islands Provincial Police, if the police found an indication of any crime committed in a hotel room, they would involve the management of the respective hotel in dealing with it.

"If it is a private matter, then we can say no because we also have the responsibility to maintain the privacy of our guests," said Sigit, who is also Novotel Batam hotel's general manager.

Sigit said he was concerned that such raids were not just done at non-star- rated but also at star-rated hotels.

On Tuesday, for example, Batam City police raided two non-star-rated hotels, Hotel Happy and Hotel 01, and took four couples who had failed to show marriage documents.

A similar raid was also conducted by Lubuk Baja police on Friday.

Chief of Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) Police Sr. Comr. Leonidas Braksan said Sunday that such raids could indeed disturb the region's tourism climate.

He said the raids were not in accordance with the police's official policy and that they were done beyond his knowledge as their superior.

"I have warned the respective police chiefs and told them that we are not sharia police."

He added no such raids could be conducted in his jurisdiction, because there were still other ways of conducting surveillance activities at hotels without disturbing the privacy of their guests.

"Batam has nothing but the service and tourism sectors," said Leonidas, emphasizing the importance of maintaining conduciveness in the sectors.

Batam has around 50 non-star-rated hotels, most of which are popular among both domestic and foreign tourists who are on limited budget.

Many of the tourists, especially those from Singapore and Malaysia, choose the non-star-rated hotels to stay in during their one-to-two week visits to Batam,