Councilor deplores prostitution

JAKARTA (JP): A councilor said the administration should act firmly against prostitutes operating outside Kramat Tunggak, the only red-light district recognized by the city administration, with particular reference to those working at the Jatinegara railway station in East Jakarta.

Amier Armas said the women, aged between 16 and 40, seemed to be "protected", given that they appeared to freely operate around the station's platform, food stalls and book stores.

"When I last checked a few months ago, there were around 100 prostitutes," Amier, a member of the commission E in charge of public welfare, said.

"Now there are around 150," he said.

"If there are any officials protecting them, whether they be security officials or those from the (state-owned) railway company, Perumka, we demand that firm action be taken against them," he said.

The single city-recognized complex for prostitutes is in Kramat Tunggak in North Jakarta.

In response to whether the council could help facilitate safe sex education for the prostitutes, Amier said the commission is presently more concerned about the welfare of train passengers.

"People returning home from work and housewives told us they felt disturbed by the prostitutes' presence," Amier said.

"Decent housewives also become prey to men's leers at the station because the men think they are prostitutes," he added. (anr)