JAKARTA, Indonesia – Jakarta Police said Thursday (June 26th) they will not abide hardline groups that intimidate and raid entertainment establishments that sell alcohol during Ramadan, the Jakarta Globe reported.
Spokesman Rikwanto said the city administration had passed regulations limiting opening hours and said groups should report businesses that violate the hours instead of taking matters into their own hands.
"There should be no mass organisation or groups conducting sweeping or raids of any place," Rikwanto said. "If they break the law, we will respond firmly."
Raids by groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) have become commonplace during Ramadan. Last year, FPI members accidently struck and killed a woman on a motorcycle in Kendal, Central Java while fleeing residents after a raid.
In recent days, FPI groups in various parts of Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan have held demonstrations demanding nightlife venues shut down completely for the duration of the holy month.
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