Maumere residents protest prostitution

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