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.