Maumere residents protest prostitution

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Clergy and local residents here expressed concern on Thursday at widespread prostitution in the city of Maumere, the capital of Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara province.

Local community figure Gabriel Kopong Namang revealed that prostitution in Maumere had reached alarming level, with at least 20 houses in the city's downtown area being used as brothels.

Another Maumere resident, Payong Beda complained that the flow of prostitutes into Maumere seemed unstoppable. They mostly came from Java and Sulawesi Islands, while the remainder were locals, he said.

Father Robert Mirsel demanded that the government stamp out prostitution in the Maumere, saying he feared that the prostitutes could spread HIV/AIDS into the local community. Fifteen people have been infected so far with HIV/AIDS in East Nusa Tenggara province. -- JP