Prevent prostitution, Jakarta East municipal authorities install floodlights in Cawang City Park
Jakarta — East Jakarta municipal authorities have installed two floodlights in Cawang City Park, Kebon Pala, Makasar, as a preventive measure against alleged prostitution practices.
“Our colleagues from the East Jakarta Roads and Infrastructure Sub-Office will increase lighting in Cawang City Park by installing two floodlights,” said Makasar Sub-district Head Dimas Prayudi at Cawang City Park in East Jakarta on Friday.
The measure was taken following public complaints and concerns regarding the misuse of the park’s function during night hours. Adequate lighting is considered an important factor in reducing potential social risks and other negative activities in the green space.
Prayudi explained that the floodlights were installed to ensure the park area is clearly visible from outside, especially at night.
“We are increasing the lighting so that activities within the park can be seen from outside. With these two floodlights, the previously dark area has become brighter,” Prayudi said.
According to him, the previous lack of lighting was suspected to have been exploited by irresponsible individuals to carry out deviant activities. Therefore, improved lighting became part of the prevention strategy.
Illegal access points along the fence bordering the toll road were also sealed with welding to prevent their use as unauthorised entry routes.
Beyond physical improvements, surveillance has been tightened through night operations involving the Civic Police Unit (Satpol PP) and three-pillar security elements, including the military and national police. Regular operations begin at 21:00 WIB to ensure the park remains safe.
Previously, officers discovered contraceptive devices and bottles of alcoholic beverages in the Cawang City Park area. Whilst the context of usage could not be confirmed, the findings reinforced suspicions of activities inconsistent with the park’s public function.
Earlier, a video went viral on Instagram account @ijoel showing a group of young men entering the Cawang City Park area through the fence perimeter.
“This park often becomes a gathering place for men—I don’t know what kind of men or what their intentions are. Every night after 01:00 WIB in the morning, they gather and enter the park, doing who knows what until 02:00 in the morning,” said the person who recorded the video, as quoted on Instagram @ijoel.