Recently the police and governmental leaders have issued warnings that they would not tolerate vigilante groups doing “sweeps” to forcefully shut down restaurants and entertainment venues that they felt were disrespecting the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Now the head of Jakarta’s Board of National Unity and Politics (Bakesbangpol) has spelled out the consequences such organization might face if they are caught committing Ramadan raids.
“We will pull their SKT (registration certificate). So do not do things that are against the law. Do not create a chaotic atmosphere. As social organizations, they have no authority to do sweeps. Such actions should only be undertaken by the state,” Ratiyono said at City Hall today as quoted by Kompas.
According to Ratiyono, there are currently about 300 organizations registered with the city through Bakesbangpol and that his organization had the power to revoke their registrations. Ratiyono said Bakesbangpol had conducted socializations to persuade leaders of the city’s organizations to not engage in sweeps.
Meanwhile, the city’s most infamous “mass organization,” the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) promised that it would still monitor the city for street side food vendors that were serving food during the day during Ramadan, saying they would “strongly reprimand” them and report them to law enforcement (even though there are no laws against warungs selling food during the day during Ramadan).
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