MASS ORGANIZATIONS WARNED NOT TO SWEEP NITE SPOTS DURING RAMADHAN

Jakarta, Aug 21 (ANTARA) - Mass organizations in the Indonesian capital were on Friday officially reminded not to conduct vigilante sweeps of night spots during the Moslem fasting month but report those violating operation hour rules to the authorities.

The Jakarta tourism and culture affairs office issued the warning one day before the start of Ramadhan on Saturday (Aug 22) to stave off the vandalism certain mass organizations had committed in the past against night spots they considered to have defiled the holy month by staying open.

"The Jakarta police chief has made it quite clear that unauthorized mass organizations are not permitted to perform supervisory functions," head of the Jakarta tourism and culture office, Arie Budhiman, said here Friday.

He said sweeps or raids on recreation centers can only be done by the police, the city government's security and order agency, and his office as the regulator of all such establishments in Jakarta.

"If mass organization members notice night spots that operate outside the officially permitted hours, they should report the spots to the authorities," he said.

Budhiman said his office had on August 3 sent a notice to 1,129 business entities running recreational establishments in Jakarta outlining which of them have to close during the fasting month and which can operate with time limits.

Establishments that had to cease operations on the day before the start of Ramadhan, during Ramadhan and on the day after the end of Ramadhan were night clubs, discotheques, steam bath and massage parlors, pinball game halls, and independent bars.

Those allowed to continue operating but with reduced business hours (20.30 - 01.30) were karaoke and live-music joints. However, on certain days, they also could not open at all, namely the day before Ramadhan, on Nuzulul Qur'an night, one day before and after Idul Fitri (post-fasting festivity).

Violations of the rules would entail certain sanctions ranging from written reprimands to forced closure of the establishments or revocation of their operating permits, Budhiman said.

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