We leave it to the wisdom of the community to decide on keeping the restaurants open during the day."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Muslims in Indonesia, who are the majority population in the country, will on Thursday begin fasting during the month of Ramadhan.
The Indonesian government has officially declared the start of the fasting month of Ramadhan on Thursday (June 18) following a decision arrived during a meeting of clerics and astronomy experts here on Tuesday evening.
"The first day of Ramadhan will fall the day after tomorrow on Thursday, June 18, 2015," Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin stated at his office on Tuesday.
With regard to the holy month of Ramadhan, Minister Lukman hoped that no mass organization would conduct sweeps on restaurants or food stalls that remain open during the day in the month.
"We hope that there are no sweeps," he noted after attending a declaration meeting on "Religious Affairs Ministrys Commitment to Integrity" at Tenni Indoor Stadium here on Monday.
The minister expressed belief that the people have become more mature now and will not raid restaurants that remain open during the day in the fasting month.
With this maturity, people will not resort to unsympathetic acts of forcibly closing restaurants that remain open during the day in Ramadhan, Lukman remarked.
"We believe that the Muslims in the country have become more matured. So, it is hoped that there will be no violent acts to ensure smooth implementation of the religious obligation," he stated.
Furthermore, the minister expressed hope that the Muslims will also respect the people who are not fasting for various reasons, including non-Muslims, and individuals who are not obligated to fast due to reasons such as old age, menstruation, or any illness.
"It (not conducting sweeps) is also intended to show respect to each other. There are Muslims who do not fast. It is their right. We must respect them," he noted.
Saifuddin pointed out that it will be the decision of the restaurants owners whether they will keep their establishments closed.
"We leave it to the wisdom of the community to decide on keeping the restaurants open during the day. There is no need to issue a special regulation on it," he added.
Regional governments in the country have issued regulations with regard to the operations of entertainment centers during the month of Ramadhan.
In Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, all entertainment centers are banned from opening during the month of Ramadhan.
All entertainment centers especially discotheques, karaoke lounges, and spa facilities must remain closed during the month, according to City Mayor Tri Rismaharini.
"They must all be closed in line with the regional regulation," she said in Surabaya.
The Surabaya administration has issued Regulation Number 23 of 2012 on tourism wherein all entertainment centers are not allowed to open during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Yogyakarta has also requested night entertainment centers to close during Ramadhan to ensure a conducive situation in the city in Central Java.
"Four types of entertainment centers that are requested to remain closed are gaming centers, discotheques, shiatsu massage parlors, and karaoke centers with VIP lounges," Head of Tourism Development and Supervision Tri Mulatsih stated.
She affirmed that the regulation concerning the operation of the places remains unchanged since last year, adding that no gaming centers and discotheques now exist in Yogyakarta.
She noted that several other types of entertainment centers are meanwhile only allowed to open from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. local time.
In connection with Ramadhan, East Java Governor Soekarwo has also appealed to mass organizations in the region to not conduct sweeps on entertainment centers during the holy month.
"I have coordinated with the police and appealed against the sweeps that would only create unrest among the citizens during the holy month," he remarked at the governors office in Surabaya on Monday (June 15).
According to Soekarwo, conducting sweeps would also disturb the people who are fasting.
He called on the people, who are unsatisfied with any activity, to coordinate with the security authorities to find a way out.
"Everything can be settled amicably without having to resort to conducting sweeps. Moreover, they may lead to violence. That is not good," he emphasized.
The governor is of the viewpoint that the people in the province have also become more mature and would not like to take any unsympathetic actions during the month.
"The situation in East Java is conducive, and all religious followers certainly do not favor violence," he claimed.
Jakarta Metropolitan Police Command Chief Inspector General Tito Karnavian has also warned mass organizations in the capital city against conducting sweeps during Ramadhan.
"Only the state authorities are allowed to do it," he reiterated.
The new chief of the Jakarta police stated that he will take firm action against any group taking the law into their own hands and conducting sweeps on entertainment locations.
He hoped that the leaders of mass organizations or community leaders would inform the police in case they found any entertainment centers violating the regional governments regulation regarding the hours of operation.
He affirmed that the police have appealed to entertainment businesses, mass organizations, and community leaders in the capital city to help maintain a conducive situation in the city.
Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MIU) Din Syamsuddin in an appeal against conducting sweeps on restaurants that remain open during Ramadhan stated that the act is against Islamic ethics.
He noted that it also accentuates violence and coercion.
"The sweeping action (against restaurants) is not necessary. It is an act of violence that can lead to significant damage and deaths, which are not in accordance with the Islamic ethics," Din stated at the Religious Affairs Ministry here on Tuesday evening.
According to Din, although several restaurants remain open during the day, it does not mean that their owners do not respect Ramadan and deserve to be intimidated.
Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama has also banned mass organizations in the city from conducting sweeps during Ramadhan.
"No mass organization is allowed to carry out sweeps, as they indeed have no right to do it. Thus, any organization is totally banned from conducting sweeps," he noted at the City Hall on Monday.
He emphasized that maintaining security is the task of the police, and so, only they are allowed to implement security measures.
The governor remarked that he will also take firm action if any organization is found conducting sweeps during the month.
Chief of the Yogyakarta Police Command Brigadier General Erwin Triwanto stated that all police departments across the region have taken anticipatory measures to prevent possible sweeps from occurring.
In connection with this, he affirmed that the police will act firmly against any organization conducting a sweep on entertainment centers in the region.
"We appeal to all mass organizations to not conduct sweeps. Trust us," he added.
(T.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
