Jamboree stimulates 'lively' nightlife

By Agus Maryono

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): "Do you like the one in green? I could call her for you, but her fee's now Rp 70,000," an attendant of a motel not far from Baturraden remarked.

While slightly disguised, young women haunting night time recreation venues continue to be a frequent occurrence, coinciding with the scouts' National Jamboree held at the adjacent Baturraden camp grounds.

Some 10,000 scouts are attending the nine-day event.

But camp fire stories for some scouts may be taking on a whole different meaning in Baturraden, as local entertainment venues surrounding the grounds appear to be just as busy as the jamboree itself.

Karaoke places have been a particularly popular hangout, with dozens of fragrantly perfumed young women aged between 17 and 30 descending on the venues.

The new faces arriving at these locations were unmistakable. Especially as they came in groups, with some "forgetting" to hide their jamboree identification tags on their chest or still wearing a scout vest signifying their contingent.

"Wow, last weekend this place was packed at night. Almost all were jamboree participants," claimed an employee of Moro Karaoke Bar.

"Too bad the gerandong weren't available. Many were asking," he added, referring to the nickname for local prostitutes.

Gerandong is the name taken from a television horror serial, adopted to disguise prostitutes from the police.

So where were the gerandong that night?

"We told them all to go home. We didn't want to get into trouble. The local administration has a firm policy."

Baturraden police chief Adj. Comm. Priyo Handoko said police had attempted to clear the area and ushered away these ladies of the night from the area of the jamboree.

However, more than a few remained.

But, as the motel attendant carefully pointed out, where there is a demand, there is always a supply.

"They're still around. How many do you need. We'll find them for you as long as the price is right."

"The usual rate for 'short time' is Rp 50,000, but since the jamboree it's gone up to between Rp 70,000 and Rp 100,000," he said.

According to him many of these women had temporarily moved to another location, about three kilometers south of Baturraden.

They are still willing to provide services on an "out-call" basis, where one specifically books them through an intermediary.

If you try to go directly to them you will likely be turned down, as you may be suspected of being an undercover policeman trying to usher them away.

Two jamboree participants who claimed to have come from outside Java and admitted that they had rented a room in that particular hotel recounted their experience. "It's expensive here you know. Where we come from it only costs about Rp 15,000 for a "quickie". Here it's Rp 70,000. So expensive!"

One of the gerandong admitted that their pimps had raised the fees during the jamboree.

"It's their doing. We just follow what they want. We only pocket Rp 50,000, and the rest goes to our pimp," a 20-year-old gerandong who comes from Surakarta under the name of Yanti, said.

"But honestly I don't know whether these people are jamboree participants. I don't ask. But they could be," Yanti added, while claiming to service about four "guests" a day.

"I'm not a robot, you know!"