Sex workers in Surabaya want to operate during Ramadhan
Sex workers in Surabaya want to operate during Ramadhan
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Hundreds of sex workers and pimps in Surabaya staged a
demonstration at the city's legislative buildings, demanding
local authorities to be flexible with the planned closure of
nightclubs and entertainment centers during the holy fasting
month.
The demonstrators, who earn a living from the sex trade, also
distributed pamphlets opposing the closure of all recreation
centers and nightclubs during the fasting month, which starts on
Nov. 6.
They called on the municipal administration to allow red-light
districts and recreation centers to open from 9:00 p.m. local
time to 2:00 a.m. so that they could earn money to celebrate the
Idul Fitri holidays.
"The city administration's policy to close all recreation
centers during the fasting month is inhuman and unfair because it
affects their life," Antara quoted a sex worker, Tina, as saying.
Tina challenged the local authorities, saying that she would
leave her profession if Mayor Bambang D.H. gave her a job that
paid enough to cover her family's basic needs.
She accused the local administration of issuing a
discriminative policy as billiard halls, karaoke bars and
theaters were allowed to operate from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
As with other cities, all recreation centers and nightclubs
are barred from running their daily operations in respect of the
fasting month and there have been no protests from owners of
recreation centers or their employees.
Harjono, a member of the advocacy team for the sex workers,
said that he could do nothing in line with the municipal
administration's policy because he would be up against Muslims
should he protest it.
However, he said the city administration should give
alternatives to allow sex workers a means to earn an income to
meet their daily needs and to celebrate the holidays.
"The city administration should not only be issuing the policy
but also proposing a solution to the problem facing sex workers
and pimps around the red-light districts and nightclubs in the
city," he said.