Apartments to recast Bongkaran's seedy image

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)