Removal of sex workers urged

Removal of sex workers urged

CILACAP, Central Java (JP): Hundreds of activists from the
Indonesian Moslem Student Movement's (PMII) Cilacap branch
demanded government action on Thursday to put an end to
prostitution here.

In a demonstration at the local council, they suggested that
local prostitutes, reportedly increasing in number since the
closure of an official rehabilitation site in July, be moved to
nearby Nusakambangan island, now used to house prisoners.

The rehabilitation site, located in Slarang village, was
closed due to public pressure.

PMII activist M. Tofik said he knew that the dozens of
prostitutes operating in the town were from Slarang. "People are
now suffering from a crisis of basic needs. Don't add to their
suffering with the moral destruction of the young generation," he
said.

Relocating the prostitutes to Nusakambangan might help to
reduce the industry's negative impact, he added.

Regent Herry Tabri said Nusakambangan was under the authority
of the Ministry of Justice and that he could only convey the
activists' demands to the ministry. (45)