Sex workers hard to handle

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Manado municipal administration is considering the establishment of a localized red-light district for hundreds of sex workers operating in the city uncontrolled.

"They operate very actively, but if we try to arrest them they are very smart in convincing us that they are not sex workers," head of Manado Social Affairs Office Jantje F. Kumayas said on Tuesday.

He said there were over 400 sex workers operating at strategic places, such as at shopping centers and certain hotels.

"They work day and night," he said, adding that most of the sex workers were from Bitung in Minahasa regency, Sangihe Talaud regency and some big cities across the country.

Jantje said that the municipal administration had provided a medical team for the sex workers in a bid to control the possible spread of HIV/AIDS.

"We will charge sex workers who walk the streets with creating public disorder," he said. --Antara