26 brothel owners refuse compensation

JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Mayor Soebagio said on Wednesday the owners of at least 26 brothels in the former Kramat Tunggak brothel complex continued to refuse the compensation offered by the mayoralty.

Soebagio said the mayoralty had offered the owners Rp 260,000 (US$26) per square meter for their land, which the city administration plans to develop into an Islamic center.

"They demanded compensation for the gardens in front of their brothels. We don't have the funds for that," Soebagio said at the City Hall.

The city administration plans to begin the construction of a grand mosque next month as a part of the Islamic center, which is to be developed on 10 hectares of the former brothel complex.

The brothel complex was officially closed down in December 1999, leaving at least 1,600 prostitutes and 200 pimps without jobs.

Some of the prostitutes are currently operating herbal medicine stalls along Jl. Kramat Jaya, in front of the former brothel complex. (jun)