Ex-brothel project to start soon

Ex-brothel project to start soon

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration's plan to transform
the former Kramat Tunggak brothel complex into an Islamic center
will start soon with the laying of the foundation stone on Aug.
1, said a city councillor.

Councillor Ali Imran Hussein of the United Development Party
said on Thursday that the first foundation stone would be laid on
Aug. 1 to mark the start of the center's development on the 11-
hectare plot occupied by the former brothel complex in North
Jakarta.

"But I don't know when the project will be completed. I think
it could take years," Ali, who is a member of the council's
Commission D for development affairs, told reporters.

Separately, Jakarta administration spokesman Muhayat said the
city owned about 5 hectares of the site while the remaining 6
hectares belonged to former brothel operators.

Muhayat said the administration had spent Rp 100 billion out
of the 2001 city budget on the acquisition of the 6-hectare site.

The brothel complex, which once housed 1,600 prostitutes and
200 pimps, was officially closed on Dec. 8, 1999.

It had originally been planned to build a shopping complex on
the site, but the investors pulled out of the plan due to the
prolonged economic crisis. (jun)