Palembang brothels closed

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