Relocation of 'Kramat Tunggak' urgent

Relocation of 'Kramat Tunggak' urgent

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council urged the city administration
yesterday to speed up the relocation of the 11-hectare Kramat
Tunggak red-light district in North Jakarta, since its existence
can no longer be accepted by people living nearby.

Atje Muljadi, the chairman of the council's Commission E,
overseeing public welfare, suggested that the prostitutes be
moved to Rawa Malang, an isolated area in North Jakarta, far away
from residential districts and their clients.

He said the City Social Services Office should cooperate with
all related offices to ensure the new site will not be near
future housing complexes.

Kramat Tunggak, the largest red-light district in the city,
was initially far away from residential areas when it opened in
1972 as a women's rehabilitation center. However the rapid growth
of the city has caused housing complexes to be built around the
area.

Atje insisted that the new site be equipped with adequate
educational facilities to return the red-light district to its
original function as a women's rehabilitation center.

He singled out Rawa Malang in the Cilincing subdistrict of
North Jakarta as the most appropriate new location.

Based on the results of a recent study conducted by the City
Social Affairs Office in cooperation with the University of
Indonesia, he said the 20-hectare Rawa Malang area meets all the
requirements.

Atje asked the city administration to cooperate with private
firms to finance the relocation project.

"The project should not be financed by the city's budget," he
said.

Saud Rahman, the deputy chairman of the United Development
Party faction in the council, said one of the chief objectives of
the relocation program should be to improve the economic and
social condition of the sex workers.

"The program should not simply be aimed at moving the
prostitutes from one place to another," he said.(32)