Keeping order at Ampel amid anxious faces
The Sunan Ampel area needs order that comes together with humanity.
The Sunan Ampel tomb complex in Surabaya, East Java, is not merely a pilgrimage destination; it is a meeting point of tradition, commerce, religious tourism, and residents’ daily activities.
Therefore, when pilgrims feel uncomfortable due to the presence of street children and beggars, the problem does not stop at public order.
Complaints from pilgrims in the area have repeatedly come through the “Lapor Cak Eri” hotline. The Surabaya City Government then deployed Satpol PP and declared it would tighten supervision.
This fact shows there is a problem that directly touches the quality of public space and people’s experience when visiting one of Surabaya’s most important religious areas.
The complaints that emerged are not solely about the presence of people asking for money. There are reports of street children pretending to help pedestrians cross the road, soliciting money in ways perceived as coercive, and even following pilgrims.
Such behaviour shifts the problem from poverty to a matter of public comfort and order.
However, enforcement must not make us stop at the question of how to drive these people away from the Ampel area. The more important questions are why they come, why they keep returning, and what happens after they are cleared out.
Enforcement
The Surabaya City Government in fact already has a handling scheme in place. Satpol PP coordinates with the Social Affairs Office to handle beggars based on age and area of origin.
Adult beggars who are local residents are directed to the Lingkungan Pondok Sosial, or Liponsos, for registration and guidance, while minors are directed to special guidance units. Those originating from outside the city can be coordinated for return to their home regions.
Meanwhile, the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of Liponsos Keputih has a mandate for social rehabilitation of the homeless, beggars, street buskers, and street children. The Surabaya Social Affairs Office also explains that the outreach process includes assessment, data collection, and services tailored to the condition of each client.