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)