Brothels, lottery kiosks closed

Brothels, lottery kiosks closed

BANYUMAS, Central Java: Following recent protests by Muslim
scholars and students from Muslim boarding schools in the
regency, Banyumas welcomed the first day of the holy month of
Ramadhan without any signs of the illegal togel lottery kiosks.

The streets were similarly empty in the Baturaden tourist
resort area, where commercial sex workers could often be seen
walking the streets.

"The sex workers usually go home before the fasting month
starts and return after Lebaran (post-Ramadhan holiday)," said
Martono, 24, a resident at the brothel complex infamous for its
initials GS, located in the vicinity of Baturaden.

Yatmin, 45, a togel dealer in Mersi, Purwokerto, complained
that he could earn nothing during Ramadhan, as he was compelled
to close his shop.

"They (the protesters) say it's a holy month and we must
respect it. But I'm confused, because if I close my kiosk, what
can I do for a living? I closed my shop following my fellow togel
dealers' decision to shut theirs, and I'm scared of the protests
if I kept it open during Ramadhan," he said. -- JP