Councilor deplores prostitution

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)