Influx of foreign sex workers sets Batam leaders in a tizzy

Influx of foreign sex workers sets Batam leaders in a tizzy

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau

The Batam administration has been urged to take immediate action
against around 150 foreign prostitutes operating freely on the
industrial island in Riau province.

Local religious and community leaders, as well as anti-AIDS
activists, said on Wednesday the authorities should summon
entertainment promoters on Batam for allegedly facilitating the
operation of the foreign sex workers.

The commercial sex workers have been reportedly found plying
their trade in at least two places on Batam. One is Sphink
Discotheque, part of the Seruni Hotel, while the other is the
Miyabi building, which hosts a Japanese restaurant and a massage
parlor located in the Mandarin Hotel.

The Sphink allegedly harbors around 90 foreign prostitutes,
who are usually on display and ready for action in a lounge on
the second floor of the building.

In the Miyabi building, there are more than 60 foreign sex
workers, reportedly hailing from Thailand, Taiwan, China, Hong
Kong and several European countries, including, surprisingly,
Norway, one of the richest countries in the world.

Consumers are charged Rp 2.500,000 for a full night. This is
much more expensive than the prices charged by the local sex
workers also operating in Batam, who normally ask for Rp 250,000
per night.

Agus, a waitress in Sphink, said most customers were
expatriates working in Batam or spending holidays on the island,
which is known for its booming sex trade. They usually come to
Batam on Friday and Saturday nights.

"Most of the clients are foreign tourists as the price (for
the foreign prostitutes) is 10 times that for the local girls,"
he said.

Sources said that the importation of foreign prostitutes was
organized by local ethic-Chinese businesswoman Mrs Jhon Brother,
who has been living in Batam for the last five years.

Wachdiyat, a senior official of the Batam immigration office,
said that the local administration could not confirm the presence
of foreign prostitutes in the city despite the fact that they
were reportedly operating in the two hotels.

He argued that it was difficult to identify the motives of
foreigners coming to the island, whether they wanted to visit as
tourists or to work, sometimes even as sex workers.

"We don't know if there are foreign sex workers operating on
Batam. It requires proof in the field. They may have come to
Batam on tourist visas. If we arrest them without concrete
evidence, it could be a problem," Wachdiyat said.

"To investigate the case, we would have to go there disguised
as customers. But we don't have the money for that. So far we
haven't received any reports on this matter," he added.

Anas, an executive of the Batam branch of the Indonesian Hotel
and Restaurant Association (PHRI), said that permitting such
illegal businesses to operate was in violation of the hotel
permits issued by the local administration.

"The mayor should investigate how these permits are being used
by hotels and nightclubs. If they are found to be violating the
regulations, the government must take firm action against them,
including revoking their permits," he told The Jakarta Post.

Barelang Police chief Sr. Comr. Suhartono vowed to take
resolute action against any hotels or other entertainment centers
found accommodating foreign sex workers.

"We will take action if there are foreigners working
illegally, especially as prostitutes."

Evianora Azwar, an activist with the Mitra Health Foundation,
said that should the authorities fail to punish foreign sex
workers, it could increase the spread of HIV/AIDS in Batam.

"Foreign prostitutes should be arrested as, otherwise, the HIV
virus will spread quickly in Batam ... The authorities should not
only chase after the local sex workers, and let their foreign
rivals operate freely," the AIDS activist added.

Ashari Abbas, who chairs the Batam branch of the Indonesian
Council of Ulemas (MUI), urged the government to respond quickly
to public demands by stopping the operation of foreign
prostitutes.

"The presence of foreign sex workers has added to the bad
image of Batam. We should not give any opportunities for such a
sinful behavior to flourish," he said.