Kramat Tunggak buildings slated to be demolished

Kramat Tunggak buildings slated to be demolished

JAKARTA (JP): A North Jakarta Mayoralty official said on
Monday that the administration would demolish any buildings on
the former Kramat Tunggak red light district in North Jakarta,
soon after it settles the compensation for the appropriation of
the buildings with some 270 brothel owners.

"After settling the first payment of compensation, which is
slated for late this month, the administration will demolish all
buildings in the area," North Jakarta mayoralty spokesman Achyar
Chaniago told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Achyar said the city administration had pledged to provide
some Rp 70 billion (US$7.6 million) as compensation for the
appropriation of the 10.4-hectare plot of land located in the
Tugu Utara subdistrict of North Jakarta.

"The governor has decided to provide nearly half of the total
compensation, that is Rp 30 billion, for the brothel owners. The
funds will be disbursed to them at the end of this month, while
the rest of the money (Rp 40 billion) will be paid someday
later," he said.

"The city administration currently only has perhaps Rp 30
billion to settle the payment and after January it will raise
other funds from its annual budget," he speculated.

However, he dismissed the allegations that the administration
had been "hastily" executing the decision without waiting until
all payments are settled.

"It's the governor's decision. But it's understandable as the
administration is encouraging investors to invest in the area.
Investors will not invest in the area if the compensation has yet
to be settled," he said.

City administration officials and the brothel owners held a
meeting last Friday to discuss the proper amount of compensation.

The meeting concluded that the administration would pay the
brothel owners some 90 percent of the total price of both the
land and the buildings, based on the taxable property value
(NJOP) which totals some Rp 70 billion.

Achyar said the brothel owners could withdraw the money from a
joint team formed by the administration, comprising of officials
from the North Jakarta mayoralty, as well as the local district
and subdistrict administrations.

"But the brothel owners must provide sufficient documents
certifying their ownership of the land," he said.

He dismissed reports that the owners would be neglected and
homeless after the appropriation, while they were waiting for the
second term of the payment.

"Now they have started to move out of the area and have
returned to their respective hometowns. Besides, we can send them
letters," he said.

Meanwhile, brothel owners vowed on Monday that they understood
the administration's policy to vacate the area.

"We'll obey the government's decision. We understand that we
can no longer stay here as the people have also expressed their
dissatisfaction over our presence," said Ronny, 64, owner of the
"Maradona" brothel.

Ronny, who claims to have operated the brothel since 1972,
said he would use the money, which could reach some Rp 300
million, to open a new business.

"However, I haven't decided what kind of business yet," Ronny,
who now lives with his family somewhere in North Jakarta, told
the Post at his 200-square-meter brothel.

He was busy setting some new large loud speakers, assisted by
one of his aides, while some prostitutes looked on.

He, however, denied that the new speakers would be used for
his new "mucus" business somewhere.

Udin, operator of "Black Rose 47", said he was preparing to
return to his hometown after the payment.

"We may join other family in Blora, Central Java, and start
business there," he said.

Despite its official closure last December, the area remained
alive on Monday. There were scores of brothels in operation with
dozens of prostitutes chatting with men. (asa)