Prostitutes move to Tangerang

Prostitutes move to Tangerang

TANGERANG (JP): Just a few days prior to the closure of the
Kramat Tunggak brothel complex in North Jakarta on Wednesday, a
number of prostitutes have reportedly moved their operations to
the border area in Tangerang.

The prostitutes were spotted operating on the outskirts of
Serpong-Legok and the Legok sand piling area between 9 p.m. to
midnight. While others were seen operating along the Transit
area, near the Tangerang exit toll gate, to Gading Serpong.

"They run their businesses there because Kramat Tunggak will
be shut down. I don't know the exact number of the prostitutes
but they were regularly picked up in cars around midnight," chief
of the Islam Defender Forum (FPI) in Legok, Edi Suseno, said last
week.

"We are concerned with this development because along with
prostitution, gambling and drugs will also emerge," he said.

The forum urged the local administration to cope with the
problem soon before things get out of hand.

"Especially in the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan,
we do not want the existence of such prostitution spots, which
may trigger mass anger that could lead to anarchy," FPI official
Habib Abdurrahman said.

"We're afraid that there will be possible attacks from mass
gatherings after the evening tarawih prayer if the prostitution
continues," he warned.

Tangerang regent Agus Djunara responded to the group's demand,
saying that his office had already run a rehabilitation program
for the prostitutes, but admitted that he was puzzled and had
been unable to eradicate the problem properly.

"We've already raided and ordered closed brothel complexes in
Sungai Tahang, Dadap, Perancis and many places in the border
area, but they keep on running their businesses.

"People even tried to burn the places down but they continued
to operate," he said.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto shared Agus'
opinion, saying that it was hard to eradicate gambling and
prostitution when people were still interested in such practices.

"When the demands are still running high, such businesses will
continue. Now it's all back to our own faith and self-restraint,"
Pudji said. (41/edt)