Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring vowed to block access to pornographic Web sites ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and warned that jail awaited those trying to access them. ?Most Internet users in Indonesia will be unable to access porn? during Ramadan, he said on Thursday.

Tifatul warned people against trying to access pornographic sites, saying it was a criminal offense punishable by up to 12 years in prison under the controversial 2008 Anti-Pornography Law.

But he acknowledged that ?there will always be people who can find a way around such blocks,? but that they would only be a ?small minority.?

?All we can do is ask the public to stop being licentious, or the law will catch up to them,? he added.

Tifatul has been adamant about banning pornographic Web sites amid charges that such a measure would curtail freedom of information.

Meanwhile, Solo Mayor Joko Widodo has adopted a more relaxed approach to the Islamic fasting month, which is expected to begin on Aug. 11, saying entertainment facilities would be allowed to open with limited hours.

?We?ll only require them to close during the first and last weeks of Ramadan,? Joko announced on Thursday.

He said restaurants in Central Java would be allowed to operate during daylight hours ? when Muslims are expected to fast ? but would have to put up curtains to avoid offending religious sensitivities.

Solo also plans to beef up security to protect venues against a potential backlash from Muslim hard-liners. (c) 2010 the jakarta globe