Prostitution complex difficult to relocate

JAKARTA (JP): It is not going to be easy for the administration to relocate the North Jakarta's Kramat Tunggak prostitution complex, an official says.

The assistant of the city secretary for social welfare, Soenarjudardji, said yesterday there are many aspects which must be taken into consideration before making a final decision on the relocation.

"Approval from the residents of the area must be obtained soon after we find a proper place for the new complex," he said.

Plans for the relocation of the 24-year-old red light district have been announced several times in the past few years following people's complaints.

The city administration initially planned to relocate the red light district to the Seribu Islands. The plan was announced some years ago, but no decision had been made until yesterday when Sunarjudardji said that studies showed that relocating the complex to the Seribu Islands would be very expensive.

The North Jakarta mayor, Suprawito, said yesterday that the new location for the complex must be on the city's outskirts.

When established in 1972, Kramat Tunggak was located in the outskirts of Jakarta. The area was previously swamps. But now Kramat Tunggak is part of the town, he said.

The Kramat Tunggak complex, with its 1,800 prostitutes, now stands on an 11.5-hectare plot of land. The complex consists of a large number of houses which have a total of 2,500 rooms.

On Wednesday the Women's Organizations Cooperating Body said it intended to officially ask the city administration to relocate the Kramat Tunggak complex.

The organization's chairperson, Mrs. Titing Saptadji said an official request to the same effect would also be sent to the House of Representatives.

The organization argued that removing the red-light district will stop the spread of prostitution in Jakarta.

Sunarjudardji said yesterday the latest plan is to relocate the complex to Rawa Malang, also in North Jakarta.

"The relocation may take place after the general election next year as the study being conducted by the University of Indonesis has yet to be completed," he said.

The relocation plan has nothing to do with the general election, he said, adding that Rawa Malang is still a tentative place.

Mayor Suprawito said if Rawa Malang residents refuse the relocation plan, Bekasi, east of the capital, could be the next choice. (yns)