Fire destroys brothels complex

JAKARTA (JP): A fire destroyed 10 buildings in a brothel complex in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, Monday night but no one was killed.

It took fire fighters only an hour to put out the fire which started about 11 p.m., Central Jakarta Fire Brigade officer Zaenal said.

Witnesses said the fire started on the second floor of the Madurasa bar of the brothel complex and spread destroying seven small discotheques and three homes.

"A boy tried to warn guests who were dancing on the first floor of the bar, but they ignored the warning because of loud music," a resident, Kuntadi, said.

He said guests were shocked and ran out of the bar after a man warned them by smashing a beer bottle against the wall.

A Central Jakarta Police precinct sergeant speculated a short circuit caused the fire.

But Rifai, another resident, said he was not sure. "I don't know what exactly caused the fire. It was probably arson."

Central Jakarta mayoralty closed the red-light district and sealed at least 25 brothels on March 24 to make way for cheap apartments.

However, some brothel operators reopened their businesses despite stern warnings from the Bendungan Hilir subdistrict office.

Kuntadi said some brothel owners got Rp 400,000 (US$172.67) per square meter as compensation.

But other brothel owners rejected the city administration's compensation rate because it was too low. They demanded Rp 2.5 million per square meter.

Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi said earlier the apartment would be built early next year after all the brothels, which opened in the 1970s, were pulled down.

At least 125 prostitutes worked in the brothels before they were closed. Some of them have moved to other prostitution complexes and some returned to their villages. (jun)