Surabaya, tourism and the Dolly

Surabaya, tourism and the Dolly

SURABAYA (JP): A local councillor recently called Surabaya
"The city of prostitutes", ahead of its 708th anniversary
celebration on May 31.

This angered many. They protested loudly. The councillor was
condemned and terrorized.

But with data showing that Surabaya's Dolly brothel complex
the biggest red-light district in Southeast Asia, did he say
something slanderous?

The councillor, Saleh Mukadar, a member of the East Java
provincial council, was asked to make a public apology because of
his remark.

The controversy continues until today. Several forums have
been held on this issue.

The problem is that the city administration seems to enjoy the
large revenue it receives from the presence of brothels in the
city.

Some people say prostitution cannot be separated from the
development of Surabaya.

Akhudiat, a playwright and poet, said pimps and their
prostitutes were "pioneers of change and development of a city".
They play important roles in establishing new settlements and
villages in the city.

In Surabaya, prostitution was first concentrated in Kembang
Jepun, now Surabaya's trading center and the heart of North
Surabaya.

The prostitutes were then forced to move to the city outskirts
like Tambaksari and Wonokromo in South Surabaya.

When Wonokromo was developed into a market and transportation
center, the prostitutes were again forced to move, this time to
Kembang Kuning, and then later to Jarak (known for its
prostitution), Sememi, Moro Seneng, Tambak Asri and Kremil.

The brothels were repeatedly moved due to the development of
these towns.

When brothels are set up at the new locations, the area
usually rapidly turned busy. In many cases, mosques and Islamic
schools were built in its surroundings, forcing the brothels to
move to other places.

Many, including religious leaders, stood by councillor Saleh
Mukadar.

"It's quite reasonable if Surabaya is dubbed as "The city of
prostitution," explained Khoirun Syuaib, a religious leader
living in Kremil, one of the prostitution centers in Surabaya.

According to him, prostitutes in a brothel complex are easier
to control than those operating along Surabaya's main
thoroughfares like Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Tunjungan, Jl. Pemuda and
Jl. Diponegoro.

Khoirun is one of the few people who are concerned about the
education of the children of prostitutes living in brothels.
About 20 years ago, he founded the Islamic school Roudhotul Khoir
Bangunsari, which currently has 250 students, mostly children of
prostitutes and pimps at the Kremil complex.

With the help of 11 teachers, the school opens in the evening
so that it can be attended by other children who go to public
schools in the morning.

Every Friday afternoon, Khoirun teaches the Koran and gives a
brief lecture to some 125 prostitutes at the brothel complex.

"Some of them had decided to quit their profession. But they
face problems as the society does not always welcome them," he
said.

Another noted ulema, Ghozali Abdi, dedicates his time at the
Jarak and Dolly complexes, and Muflihin does so in Moro Seneng.

Prostitution is also conducted outside the complexes, such as
along the Kalimas river, the main river in Surabaya.

Here, the prostitutes solicit customers during the night.

Although the local public order officials have been moving
brothels out of the city or netting street prostitutes,
prostitutes can still be seen soliciting passers-by in the heart
of the city such as at Ketabangkali and at the back of Delta
Plaza in the heart of this city.

During a recent Cak & Ning (Mr and Miss) Surabaya competition,
a member of the jury raised the question of promoting Surabaya as
a city of prostitution to the contestants.

Of course, most of them opposed the idea.

"I would be ashamed to promote my city as a city of
prostitution. I would rather not be Ning Surabaya, if my duty is
to promote tourism in Surabaya this way," said one female
contestant.

-- Sirikit Syah and Riyadi Ngasiran