City to get tough on prostitutes

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is determined to continue its efforts to clean up the illegal operation of prostitutes and miscreants on the city's streets, despite the resistance to its operations, an officer said.

Hadi Utomo, head of the city public order office, said, "Whatever happens, we will not stop operations against them."

Hadi made the remarks on Tuesday after a group of prostitutes with the help of hoodlums pelted stones at dozens of the public order officers at the Prumpung viaduct on Jl. Panjaitan in East Jakarta on Sunday night.

During the attack, three officers, identified as Machmud, 40, Soleh, 30 and Basri, 35, were injured, and two of the office's vans were damaged, he said.

Machmud was severely injured, and underwent head surgery at the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital in Central Jakarta. Hadi said his condition was now improving.

"I already visited him. He was conscious but still weak," Hadi said.

The attack took place when the public order officers were heading toward the viaduct after what Hadi called a successful operation involving prostitutes in the Boker area of Ciracas, East Jakarta.

When the officers arrived at the scene at around 9 p.m., however, some hoodlums threw stones, bottles, wood and other items at them, Hadi said.

Twenty-two people were arrested and temporarily detained at the East Jakarta police station for questioning. (ylt)