Sex workers protest, police not bending

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.