Prostitutes stay on the streets

Prostitutes stay on the streets

SEMARANG, Central Java: The province's social service office
is finding it difficult to rehabilitate prostitutes despite the
closure of several major red-light districts, an official said on
Monday.

"The redelight districts are legally closed, but in reality
the prostitutes still continue to solicit surreptitiously in the
old locations," said Sarmanto, head of the social rehabilitation
office.

In Sunan Kuning and Gambilangu red-light districts in
Semarang, 857 prostitutes continue to solicit under the
coordination of 259 panderers, Sarmanto was quoted by Antara as
saying.

Similar conditions also are found in Banyu Putih and Penundang
red-light district in Batang where 284 prostitutes and 124 pimps
work, he said.

The number of prostitutes in Silir in Surakarta, he said, was
296 under the coordination of 63 panderers.

"It is difficult to rehabilitate them. We can only do that
with those netted during the operation," he said.