Pimps, patrons play strangers

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): An encounter between officers, 10 pimps and 32 prostitutes in a police station on Monday took on shades of melodrama when many of the ladies of the night began to shed tears.

The sex workers and their bosses were questioned after being rounded up in the Baturaden tourist resort the previous night for breaking a promise to stop operating in the area.

After the meeting the girls said they began to cry because certain officers who were frequent consumers of the services on sale pretended not recognize their erstwhile sweethearts.

Linda and Yetty said they "could not understand" why police picked them up because they never failed to give the officers money any time they dropped by.

"They came and caught us as if they had never seen us before," said Linda, who was picked from the infamous Jl. Sadar (Repentance Road) in Baturaden.

They were confused because police stated that their business was illegal but local government officials regularly visited them to provide health information, religious sermons and antibiotic injections.

"I don't understand," said Yetti on the sudden change of heart by police.

Banyumas police precinct chief Lt. Col. Agus Yudharto said he believed the prostitutes' and pimps' claims that some of his men back the flesh business and he promised to look into the matter. (45/pan)