Cohabitation is a vice in Lampung

Cohabitation is a vice in Lampung

JAKARTA (JP): The city of Bandar Lampung in the southern tip
of Sumatra has stretched its new anti-vice bylaw to include
cohabitation.

Mayor Nurdin Muhayat was quoted by the Antara news agency as
saying that the practice of couples living together outside of
wedlock is "another form of prostitution".

He emphasized that the city will not tolerate kumpul kebo, the
Indonesian derogatory term for cohabitation, which literally
means "buffalo life style".

On Tuesday, the Bandar Lampung City Council endorsed the new
anti-vice law, which imposes a maximum jail term of three months,
or a fine of Rp 50,000 ($24), on offenders.

Mayor Nurdin said he was ready to enforce the regulation and
called on the participation of all citizens. "Please report any
acts of vice to the authorities. I'll act on your reports," he
promised.

The new bylaw empowers the city authorities to organize joint
anti-vice operations with the police and judges, and to hold on-
the-spot trials of offenders.

Bandar Lampung had already taken anti-vice measures before the
regulation was enacted by the City Council.

The municipality recently closed down two brothels in Panjang
district. But plans to send the prostitutes back to their home
villages will have to wait until next year because of budget
constraints. (emb)