Plan for prostitute relocation criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Plans to move the city-sanctioned red-light
\ndistrict in North Jakarta to the Seribu Islands might lead to a
\nnew cycle of arrests for prostitutes, say sources close to the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
One way out of the hopeless cycle, said an official on
\nSaturday, would be to let them organize: \"They could regulate
\nthemselves to make health monitoring easier and help them keep
\ntrack of their members.\"<\/p>\n
The official, who requested anonymity, said he was responding
\nto inquiries on the municipality's possible move to shift the
\nKramat Tunggak prostitution complex to the Seribu Islands, which
\nlie north of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Without other acceptable means, the official said: \"We will
\nhave to step up raids because the women will surely resist the
\nmove, or will escape back to the mainland.\"<\/p>\n
If the move goes ahead, the future income of the 1,800 women
\nin the complex is in doubt because customers would have to take
\nexpensive boat trips to the islands.<\/p>\n
Plans to move the complex, officially a rehabilitation center,
\nare being driven by the protests of local residents. Kramat
\nTunggak is no longer isolated like it was in the 1970s when it
\nwas considered an ideal place to centralize prostitution and
\nrehabilitate prostitutes.<\/p>\n
The deputy governor in charge of public welfare, R.S. Museno,
\nsaid yesterday that action against prostitutes would never be
\neffective as long as men could not control their urges.<\/p>\n
\"But I haven't looked into the idea of self-regulation. What
\nwould be the good of it? I think the social agency is already
\ndoing increasing HIV-awareness and trying to make them leave the
\nbusiness,\" Museno said, referring to Koran reading and sewing
\nclasses which are provided by a social agency in Kramat Tunggak.<\/p>\n
The prostitutes may not have had time to discuss the planned
\nmove. But they say they do not believe it.<\/p>\n
\"It's an old story, we've heard it since the 1980s,\" scoffed
\none woman.<\/p>\n
Kramat Tunggak, with 250 'guesthouses', is home to thousands
\nof women, at least during their productive years.<\/p>\n
Scores of vendors live near the area. A public bus driver said
\nSaturday that local drivers would lose a large part of their
\nincome if the complex was moved.<\/p>\n
One vendor said Saturday that every time news broke on a
\npotential move, the guesthouse's owners renovated their
\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
\"It would cost a lot of money to tear down the buildings,\" the
\nvendor said. The two-story buildings contain bars, dance floors
\nand up to 20 rooms, which are securely enclosed in floor-to-
\nceiling iron bars.<\/p>\n
The land at the 11.5 hectare complex is valued at Rp 300,000
\nper square meter.<\/p>\n
A social worker involved in promoting HIV\/AIDS awareness,
\nTeguh Budiono, said the women would resist the move or run away.<\/p>\n
Teguh questioned the possibility of the council's proposal
\nthat pimps not be allowed to operate at the proposed island
\nbrothels.<\/p>\n
\"The whole complex is a big business from the beer and room
\nrents alone. Besides, the women have to settle debts of hundreds
\nof thousands of rupiah to the parties who let them work there.\"<\/p>\n
Given the likelihood that the women would scatter if the
\ncomplex was moved, Teguh said that it would be much harder to
\nmonitor the women to curb the spread of HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
He said that volunteers from non-governmental organizations
\nhad helped recruit \"peer educators\" to spread safe sex awareness
\namong the women. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plan-for-prostitute-relocation-criticized-1447893297",
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