City plans eviction in red light area

JAKARTA: Central Jakarta city officials are planning a mass eviction of residents in at least 886 houses on Jl. Kebon Melati, Tanah Abang, after neighbors complained the houses were being used for prostitution.

Tanah Abang municipality deputy head Arifin MD said the city would provide Rp 500,000 (about US$60) each as compensation for evicted house owners.

"The eviction is based on the Bylaw No. 11/1998 on public order," he said as quoted by the city official website beritajakarta.com.

Nasrul, a resident, said many prostitutes were seen in the area and at the nearby Tanah Abang market from evening until dawn.

Nasrul said irate residents had asked the mayor to take away the prostitutes.

Another resident, Sutiono, said the prostitutes had even dared to solicit customers in front of alleys in residential areas. -- JP

;ANATARA;ABDUL; ANPAj..r.. Great-Bekasi-raid Govt nab suspect prostitutes JP/8/Greater

Govt nab suspect prostitutes

BEKASI: Bekasi public order officers took 30 women into custody in the wee hours on Thursday on Jl. Juanda, Jl. Cut Mutiah and Jl. Ahmad Yani, suspecting them of soliciting for sex.

The officers later released 18 of the women.

"We released those who could produce their employee identification cards," head officer Hudoyo Saputro, explained.

The remaining dozen were taken to the Palimanan Rehabilitation Center, Cirebon in West Java, he said.

The presence of prostitutes, particularly around Jl. Ahmad Yani near Bekasi Sports Center, has raised residents' ire. Boy Scouts often hold activities and camp at the sports center during weekends.

Hudoyo said the Bekasi administration would not give the prostitutes a chance to operate in the area. Public order officers would continue executing raids, he said. -- Antara