Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – Indonesian Islamic groups, which attacked several nightspots this week, have threatened to close down nightclubs, karaoke bars and other entertainment outlets. The threat comes after the government failed to impose a blanket ban on them during the Muslim fasting month.

Head of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Jafar Sidik said that posters had been put up all around town to remind entertainment operators to respect the Muslim holy month. "All nightspots which dare to operate during Ramadan will be burned down," he said.

On Wednesday, a police report said that the group raided the MW bar and the Ratu Ayu bar in Wijaya Kusuma sub-district, West Jakarta, even though the bars had been closed at the time of the raid.

Some 300 members of the group, armed with daggers and swords, broke into the two bars about 10.30pm, and removed musical instruments and furniture, which they then set alight. No arrest has been made, police said.

Over the weekend, FPI youths dressed in long white robes, green sashes and white skull caps "raided" cafes, restaurants and kiosks in the Depok, in outer Jakarta, which they said had violated the sacredness of Ramadan.

The cafes, located outside Jakarta's boundaries, were not even violating a new city ordinance aimed at limiting the operating hours of bars and discos during the fasting month. But to the group, these details were unimportant.

The point was to warn cafes that they could launch a raid arbitrarily on those open during Ramadan, whether or not they were covered by the city council's regulations.

Other Islamic groups such as the Cempaka Putih, an offshoot of the infamous Laskar Jihad which sent Muslim fighters to Maluku, argue that closing down clubs, whether peacefully or violently, is the only way to protect Muslim morals. "Muslims should avoid these places because permissive behaviour will destroy their morals," said Hardi Ebnu Harun of the Cempaka Putih.

To groups such as the FDI and Cempaka Putih, closing down restaurants and nightclubs is a chance for other religious groups to show tolerance for Muslims. "It's only one month that they have to close and other religions should respect us as Islam is the majority religion here," said Mr Hardi Ebnu.

Many religious observers say these groups represent a hardline minority outside the traditionally tolerant Muslim majority, and that while they might be more vocal and visible than more moderate groups, they lack widespread support.

However, others are concerned that as more moderate Islamic groups threaten to conduct civilian "sweeps" against clubs offending Muslims or violating Ramadan restrictions, hardline actions may gain momentum in a climate of political instability and continuing economic hardships.

"Many people are emotional, desperate and hungry and need an outlet. Just as during the fall of the New Order they blamed Suharto, now the outlet is prostitution," said religious scholar Komaruddin Hidayat.

On Sunday, even the youth wing of the more moderate Nahdlatul Ulama vowed to conduct raids on Surabaya's discotheques and brothels that dared to open during the fasting month, according to online news service Detik.com.

Surabaya's government ordered discotheques and brothels to close its doors, but has allowed pubs, karaoke and massage parlours to open outside the fasting hours, from 9 pm to 2 am.