'New prostitution complex must be well planned'

'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)