Palembang brothels closed

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Governor Rosihan Arsyad has officially declared that the popular brothel district of Kampung Baru in Palembang would be closed permanently.

The governor said in a meeting with brothel operators and sex workers on Sunday that the closure of the 27-year-old prostitution complex located on Jl. Col. H. Berlian was legally backed by the gubernatorial decree No. 573/2000.

"Now that the brothels are closed, no one is allowed to engage in prostitution-related business in the area. Such practices were officially prohibited as of Jan. 1, 2002," he said.

The prostitutes attending the meeting were powerless to defend their livelihood. After the meeting, one of the prostitutes, Ani, however said that life would be more difficult with the closure of the complex. "But, I will try to find another job to support my life," she said. Meanwhile, Hasbullah, one of the brothel operators, said he was sure that the sex workers would not obey the government's decision.

He said the government had been discriminative. "There are illicit prostitution rings in hotels, inns, discotheques or beauty salons. We want the government to ban their activities too." --JP