Authorities vow to phase out red-light district<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The municipality will phase out the city's only
\nofficially recognized red-light district in Kramat Tunggak, North
\nJakarta, Deputy Governor for Welfare Affairs Djailani said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Prostitution will be eliminated gradually to prevent confusion
\nfor those living in the district or surrounding areas, he said
\nwithout disclosing the steps to be taken.<\/p>\n
\"I can't tell you now because we're still discussing it. But
\none thing is for sure, we will not eliminate it by moving the
\ncomplex to another area,\" Djailani said.<\/p>\n
He refuted allegations that the city administration was still
\nconsidering relocating the complex, which was established in the
\n1970s, to previously proposed areas such as the Thousand Islands
\nand Rawa Malang, both in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Plans to relocate the red-light district have been proposed
\nevery so often since it was first brought up by city officials in
\nthe 1980s.<\/p>\n
\"Relocating the complex is the same as approving of
\nprostitution, and we do not agree with that principle,\" he told
\nreporters after a closed meeting on the matter yesterday.<\/p>\n
Djailani said the government would take the time to consider
\nall aspects before deciding on the best solution.<\/p>\n
Ida Mawaddah Noor, city councilor of Commission E for welfare
\naffairs, sympathized with the administration's decision not to
\nrelocate the brothel complex, saying it would just create other
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"Ideally, because of unmanageable growth, it should be
\nrelocated to another possible or suitable area for the sake of
\nthe future of the children in Kramat Tunggak,\" Ida told The
\nJakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
She said prostitution practices in Kramat Tunggak could
\nobstruct the upbringing of children in the area.<\/p>\n
Ida said that dealing with prostitution was not easy because
\nit did not only affect the prostitutes, pimps and customers, but
\nalso the public transportation drivers and even vendors who sold
\ndrinks and snacks in the area.<\/p>\n
Relocating the red-light district would not solve the problem
\neither, she added.<\/p>\n
\"It even tends to create new problems. This was proven right,
\nfor example, when people in the proposed areas strongly rejected
\nthe idea.\"<\/p>\n
Ida said prostitutes should be encouraged to shift to other
\nprofessions by providing them with some practical training,
\nincluding cooking, sewing and beauty classes.<\/p>\n
She admitted that the city administration had faced
\ndifficulties in eliminating the practice.<\/p>\n
\"They don't have adequate funds to support the training and
\nrehabilitation programs. And it gets even worse because many of
\nthe prostitutes have never taken the training seriously.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult to help them if they do not cooperate,\" she
\nsaid. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/authorities-vow-to-phase-out-red-light-district-1447893297",
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