Brothel grenade attack raises rivalry issues

Brothel grenade attack raises rivalry issues

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While the Jakarta Council is still considering the idea of
legalizing prostitution and gambling as suggested by former
governor Ali Sadikin, a hand grenade exploded at the Boker
prostitution complex in Ciracas, East Jakarta, late on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, the Jakarta Police were yet to determine any
suspects involved in the incident, which injured at least 11
people, but they suspect that the grenade attack was perpetrated
by someone who does not like prostitution.

City Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Matius Salempang said
that his men got information on several individuals who were
angry that the old neighborhood had turned into a haven for
brothels.

"It seems that the explosion was meant to warn the people
involved in prostitution," he said.

Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said that the result of
preliminary investigation showed that the grenade could have been
the same type as those used in military or police training.

"We are still looking for the suspects in the incident. We
don't know the motive yet. We are certain that the grenade was
thrown from around six meters away. However, we are still waiting
for our laboratory test results," he said.

On Tuesday at 10:15 p.m., a grenade exploded near a group of
small shops belonging to two women identified as Yuyun and
Yolanda where many people were sitting and drinking. At least 11
of them were seriously injured and are now being treated at the
hospital.

A witness, Arifin, 35, saw a white package falling from the
roof of one of the shops and it exploded as it touched the
ground.

Tjiptono said that the police have questioned 12 witnesses.

A source close to the police investigation said that the
motive behind the grenade attack could have also been the rivalry
between individuals within the police and military forces over
becoming the "protector" of the lucrative business.

"The complex contributes a lot of money to the parties who
back them. It is natural that groups will fight for the
protection racket. The grenade attack is one kind of 'psy-op'
weapon used between them," the source said.

Prostitution is illegal under Indonesian law, however, the
authorities tend to turn a blind eye toward prostitution across
the country. Although there are the occasional raids in some
areas, the oldest profession in the world continues unabated.