East Jakarta City Government Permanently Closes Two Access Points to Cawang City Park Amid Prostitution Allegations
Jakarta — The East Jakarta City Government has permanently closed two access points to Cawang City Park in the Kebon Pala area of Makasar District due to allegations that the park was being used for same-sex prostitution during nighttime hours.
“We are attempting to permanently close two entry points today through concrete sealing, in cooperation with the City Parks and Forestry Sub-Office,” said Makasar Sub-district Head Dimas Prayudi at Cawang City Park in East Jakarta on Friday.
The access closure was conducted in an integrated manner with cross-agency coordination, involving the City Parks and Forestry Sub-Office, the local kelurahan (village administration), and three-pillar security elements comprising military and community police officers from Kebon Pala kelurahan.
“We are attempting to reduce the impact of social security risks at the park located in Kebon Pala kelurahan, Makasar District, as there have been several reports and community concerns regarding the misuse of the park’s function at this location,” Dimas explained.
Additionally, portions of the park fence bordering the toll road area also received attention. Joint personnel discovered gaps in the fence that residents frequently used to access the park unofficially. On the same day, officers proceeded to weld these access points shut.
“Today, we conducted welding because there have been several instances of residents using these gaps to enter the park area,” said Dimas.
“What we are doing today is preventative in nature to reduce such impacts. Most importantly, it is our collective responsibility to maintain the park,” he emphasised.
To this end, the sub-district authorities, together with relevant agencies, are implementing preventative measures to restore the park to its proper function.
“Our hope is that the public, particularly in East Jakarta, can utilise the park in accordance with its intended purpose. If there are negative activities or misuse, we want to see that reduced,” Dimas stated.
Previously, a video posted by Instagram user @ijoel went viral on social media, showing a group of young men entering Cawang City Park through a gap in the fence.
“This park often becomes a gathering place for young men—I don’t know what their intentions are—but every night after 01:00 in the morning, they gather and enter the park until around 02:00,” said the person who recorded the video, as quoted by Instagram @ijoel.