Iman Mahditama, Jakarta – Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Untung S. Rajab insisted on Wednesday that stopping American pop diva Lady Gaga from holding a concert in Jakarta was part of his duty to "protect the nation's culture".

"The reasons behind the police's refusal to issue a permit for the show not only include security issues but also the police's duty to protect the nation's culture," he said.

"You have to view [the decision to not issue the permit for the concert] objectively. There will always be those who like and those who oppose every decision," he said.

Untung also said that the police would have to forcefully close down the show, should the promoter decide to go ahead with the plan of holding the concert at the Bung Karno Main Stadium on June 3.

"I'm not banning [Lady Gaga], I just refuse to recommend [the June 3 gig be held]," he told reporters. "If [the promoter] insists on holding the show, then it may be deemed as unlawful, and the show will have to be closed down."

The police have revealed that this is the first time authorities have ever banned a foreign singer from performing in Indonesia. Over the years, several foreign performers have canceled their scheduled concerts in Indonesia for various reasons, but none of them were banned by law enforcement agencies.