Many illegal brothels in Kalijodo remain standing
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Many illegal buildings located on the banks of the West Flood Canal in the Kalijodo brothel and gambling complex in Penjaringan district, North Jakarta, remain standing despite the city administration's avowed intention of demolishing them.
The deputy chief of Penjaringan district, Usmayadi, said on Saturday that the demolition of some 150 buildings along the bank had been delayed indefinitely as the owners had refused to accept the Rp 500,000 compensation offered to each of them by the administration.
The city administration had earlier demolished more than one thousand squatters' shanties located along riverbanks in the capital as they were blamed for worsening the recent flooding in Jakarta. The compensation paid for each shanty was only Rp 100,000. The demolitions were carried out forcibly amid strong protests by many of the squatters.
In the case of Kalijodo, the administration is unable to use force as the complex is controlled by hoodlum gangs, backed by local police and officials.
Usmayadi said that the administration would demolish some 400 structures in Kalijodo.
"Our first priority is the 150 structures located along the canal bank, while the rest will be our long-term target. However, due to the lack of compensation we have had to cancel the plan indefinitely," he said.
The second phase involving the demolition of 250 buildings located inside the residential compound will be the hardest, as many of the structures date back to 1954. Some of the building owners claim they have building permits.
"All of the buildings in Kalijodo are illegal. It's state- owned land. They managed to build their houses back in the 1950's, when the area was still a swamp.
"For long-term residents, we will pay Rp 30,000 per square meter in compensation," said Usmayadi.
The city administration is planning to build a low-cost apartment complex for the poor to replace the brothels and gambling dens, which provided the inspiration for the movie Ca Bau Kan.
Daeng Rusdi, who owns a brothel right on the canal bank, angrily claimed that the administration should pay him proper compensation.
"I built this two-story brothel 10 years ago and it's now my source of livelihood. Now they want to demolish it and give me only Rp 500,000? No way. I will resist," said Daeng, who originally comes from Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Daeng, like many other people in the complex, has put his business on hold since the city administration officially closed the red-light district late last month.
"I will move to Jelambar, West Jakarta, where I'll open a (similar) business. But I'm afraid that if I leave this house now, the city administration will demolish it," he said.
The city administration postponed the demolition of the remaining 400 buildings in Kalijodo on Feb. 27 after having already demolished 180 buildings. The decision to close Kalijodo was made following a brawl between two hoodlum groups in the area last month.
The residents of Kalijodo have also asked for the help of local activists of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as indicated by the hoisting of the party's flag on several buildings.
Residents were seen congregating at the alleyway leading into the complex, closely scrutinizing strangers. Meanwhile, huge PDI- P flags were also seen hanging in front of and along the length of the alleyway.