'New prostitution complex must be well planned'

JAKARTA (JP): The new site for the relocated prostitution complex must be well planned, or the problems with the existing Kramat Tunggak district in North Jakarta would happen again, a councilor said.

Atje Muljadi, who chairs commission E for public welfare, said that planning must guarantee it will not become a residential area like Kramat Tunggak, the present site.

The new site, which may be in Rawa Malang sub-district in Cilincing, North Jakarta, should be surrounded by a green belt or "buffer zone" where building would be banned, Atje said.

Atje also revealed a report on a study by the Institute of Society Development (LPSM) under the University of Indonesia, which said the new site must be "humane."

The report on the study by the city secretary for social affairs, Soenarjudardji, said the new site must be set up "like a normal housing complex" with good public facilities.

Kramat Tunggak, located in the Koja and Tugu Utara sub- districts, was designated by the municipality as an official rehabilitation site for prostitutes in 1970.

The area, far from residential areas, was then considered ideal to prevent prostitution spreading, by bringing together prostitutes from across the city.

But it became more and more crowded. Residents have repeatedly demanded that the prostitution around the rehabilitation site be removed from their area.

The study also said the area is no longer suitable as a rehabilitation site for prostitutes.

After a meeting with Soenarjudardji, Atje said there should be training facilities on the site to improve rehabilitation.

However the relocation must not use city money, Atje said.

"We understand it will take time to find a partner from the private sector," Atje said.

"On our last visit, pimps and prostitutes said they were ready to move if they had to," he said. The municipality should prepare well for relocation and announce clear steps, he added.

Answering an inquiry about the informal sector supporting and living off Kramat Tunggak, Atje said the relocation "would be in one package -- the vendors will all move too."

The study also reported that Rawa Malang would be an ideal place for a rehabilitation site, given the fact that there are already signs of prostitution there.

Soenarjudardji cited 1994 studies by the city social agency and the Pos Kota daily, which found 42 percent of prostitutes in Kramat Tunggak were from West Java, 40 percent from Central Java and 13.8 percent from East Java.

Most are 20 to 24 years old, and have not completed elementary school. Currently the 11.5-hectare complex houses 1,800 prostitutes and 2,500 rooms.

The study said the only alternative to relocation was to step up public order operations against illegal building, and retain Kramat Tunggak as a rehabilitation site. (anr)