50 courting couples nabbed

Police have nabbed 50 courting couples from several hotels in Bogor, 70 kilometers southeast of here, during a special operation involving dozens of policemen and officials from the town's tourism board.

The operation is part of Bogor's preparation in hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference scheduled for November.

"We are striving 'clean up' and secure the city before the international conference," Bogor Police Chief Lt. Col. Nono Supriono said to Pos Kota.

He said the operation, code-named Operasi APEC 94, was part of the city's campaign to promote a better image of Bogor to foreigners, especially the conference's participants. American President Bill Clinton will be among the delegates attending the conference.

Nono said the couples were not detained but were given stern warning not to do it again in the future.

He said the operators of the hotels were also strongly reprimanded.

"I believe some of the hotels provide prostitutes for their guests," Nono said, adding that if the operators continued doing such business he would not hesitate to close down their hotels.

Nono said all brothels in Bogor might be closed down and the prostitutes and their pimps could be detained.

He said the operation will continue even after the APEC meeting is over.(bas)