Sex workers protest, police not bending
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya
The East Java Provincial Police have rejected demands made by more than 300 sex workers who demonstrated in Surabaya on Thursday, saying allowing brothels to stay open during Ramadhan is not an option.
"The ruling on the closure of all entertainment centers, brothels and nightclubs must be enforced. The police have been tolerant because the closure of red-light districts in the city is only for the time being," Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo, spokesman for the provincial police, said here on Friday.
Harunantyo said if the sex workers needed money to celebrate the Idhul Fitri holiday, they could use their skills they had learned from local government-sponsored training to make money.
The sex workers, many of whom wore head veils, staged a demonstration at the Surabaya regency legislative council in the city on Thursday to protest the closure of their work places.
Joining the rally on Thursday were becak (pedicab) drivers, street vendors and a number of pimps operating in the red-light districts of Dolly, Bangunsari and Moro Seneng, Tambak Sari, Kremil and Jarak.
The city administration recently issued a decree closing the districts and other similar areas during Ramadhan.
Bambang Ariyono, a protest coordinator from the People's Communication Forum for Surabaya Localization (Formal), said the demonstrators also condemned "arbitrary actions" by police in arresting prostitutes and pimps.
"Commercial sex workers... need to eat and generate income to provide for their families. If their places of work are closed for a month, how can they earn money?" Bambang asked.
"We have families and even children. The decree should have been issued after having listened to us. It was really a unilateral decision," said prostitute Narsih from Blitar regency.
Deputy DPRD Speaker Herman Rivai, who received the demonstrators, opposed the demand for the revocation or review of the decree, arguing the decision had taken religious considerations into account.
"The decree has been backed by all community and religious organizations," he added.
The protesters dispersed as rain began falling after two hours of demonstrations which caused a heavy traffic jam.
Despite the closure, several red light districts in Surabaya went ahead with operating illegally during Ramadhan after 09:00 p.m.