City Administration Installs Floodlights and Increases Patrols at Cawang Park to Combat Prostitution

The City Administration (Pemkot) of East Jakarta has taken firm action to clean up Cawang City Park in Kebon Pala, Makasar, from suspected prostitution practices and other negative activities. Two floodlights have been installed in the area to ensure all corners of the park are clearly monitored at night.

“Our colleagues from the East Jakarta Public Works Sub-department will increase lighting at Cawang City Park by installing two floodlights,” said Makasar District Head Dimas Prayudi, as quoted by Antara on Friday (27 February).

This step was taken following public concerns about the misuse of the park’s function. The lack of lighting was suspected to have been exploited by irresponsible parties to conduct deviant activities in the green open space.

“We are increasing the lighting so that activities in the park can be seen from outside. With these two floodlights, areas that were previously dark are now brighter,” explained Dimas.

In addition to strengthening illumination, the government has also undertaken physical improvements by closing vulnerable points. In cooperation with the City Gardening and Forestry Sub-department, two illegal access points have been permanently sealed through concrete pouring.

Furthermore, the fencing bordering the toll road has also been reinforced. Illegal access at the side of the fence has now been permanently welded to prevent it from being used as an unofficial entry route by residents or outside elements.

Field surveillance has also been tightened. The Civil Police Unit (Satpol PP) together with TNI and Polri elements (Three Pillars) regularly conduct night operations starting at 21:00 hours.

This preventive measure is supported by previous findings by field officers. In the park area, officers found a number of contraceptives and discarded bottles of alcoholic beverages scattered about. Although the perpetrators have not yet been identified, these findings strengthen the suspicion of activities that violate norms in this public space.

The condition of Cawang City Park came under scrutiny following a viral post on Instagram account @ijoel. The video showed a group of young men sneaking into the park through the fence perimeter in the early morning hours.

“In this park, it often becomes a gathering place for young men, I don’t know what their indication is, every night after 01:00 hours in the morning, they gather and then enter the park to do something until 02:00 in the morning,” said the videographer in the post.