Apartments to recast Bongkaran's seedy image

JAKARTA (JP): The city municipality unveiled its plan yesterday to convert the Bongkaran red-light district in Tanah Abang into a low-cost apartment complex surrounded by green areas.

The plan will be implemented next year and about Rp 4 billion of the city's 1997/1998 budget is to be set aside for the Bongkaran project, Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said.

"Sixty percent of this 11-hectare area will be developed into low-cost apartments, while the remaining 40 percent will be converted into green areas and other social facilities."

Tanah Abang has attracted widespread media and government attention following clashes last week between local residents and hoodlums which left at least two men dead.

Locals claim the hoodlums have set up illegal businesses and turned the neighborhood into a "crazy" place, something they can no longer tolerate.

For example, a site near the railway line and Banjir Kanal River, in Bongkaran, is home to low-class prostitutes and gambling dens.

In an attempt to restore order, the city authorities rounded up the alleged hoodlums and entered them in a "rehabilitation program" in South Jakarta.

Subur said the decision to improve living conditions in Bongkaran was aimed at restoring order to Tanah Abang once and for all.

"Bongkaran was not listed in the city's low-cost apartment program," he said, adding that provisions had yet to be made but locals were being informed.

He said the mayoralty also planned to clear a site in Kebon Jati for the relocation of sidewalk vendors and officials had begun informing locals.

The 5,000-square-meter site in Kebon Jati is to be ready in 1999.

Demolition

"We will work on all aspects of the Tanah Abang problem, ranging from the hoodlums, sidewalk vendors, illegal residents, gambling and prostitution to corruption."

After an inspection Tuesday, Governor Sutiyoso -- who was accompanied by the city's high-ranking officials -- ordered security personnel to demolish huts in Bongkaran believed to be the home base of a Tanah Abang hoodlum leader.

A team of 101 security officers started destroying 14 buildings, including bars and houses, at 2:30 p.m., only hours after Sutiyoso issued the order.

The officers continued the demolition yesterday, tearing down two buildings, believed to be the hangouts of hoodlums, and dozens of wooden huts.

Local residents applauded the city's swift action.

"Every night they turn the music up really loud. Many of them get drunk and disturb our neighborhood. I hope this operation will be effective for the people's sake," Ali Muchtar, 50, a long-time resident, said.

"We are fed up with this dreadful situation."

For many residents, discovering a dead person in the gutter is not unusual, he said.

In response to the residents' plight, Governor Sutiyoso and City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin have pledged to rid Tanah Abang of hoodlums.

Sjafrie said yesterday that 68 hoodlums were involved in the rehabilitation program in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

"After joining the program, I hope they will be 'sober' and decide to become useful citizens."

Sutiyoso had the same expectations.

"I don't want any of the hoodlums or their buildings to still be standing in this area. We'll burn them all down if we have to. I want them to be removed from the city."

The plan to rid the streets of hoodlums will also put an end to the activities that have disrupted Tanah Abang for years, he said.

"Jakarta is growing really fast. Tanah Abang has the potential to become the backbone of this city's economic base. This stern action is aimed at restoring stability, security and order in the area.

"I want the residents and the vendors to become more prosperous and live a peaceful life with no hoodlums able to mess with them anymore." (07)