The oldest profession feels pinch of the monetary crisis
The oldest profession feels pinch of the monetary crisis
JAKARTA (JP): Few businesses have been spared the sting of the
ongoing economic turmoil, including the officially recognized
Kramat Tunggak red-light district in North Jakarta.
Prostitutes, brothel keepers, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers,
drinking stall owners and traders who operate in the 11.5-hectare
complex are complaining that their income has plunged to less
than half from previous years.
Speaking to The Jakarta Post yesterday, they hoped the
nation's economic and political situation would soon return to
normal -- and better their takings.
Nike, one of at least 2,000 prostitutes at the complex of 221
brothels, said most of her guests would have at least five
bottles of beer before having sex with her. Since February,
however, many had dispensed with the drinking, during which she
would be the host.
"Many of them came straight for the sex while others preferred
to have drinks only because that's far cheaper than having a
half-hour of sex," she said.
The petite young woman, wearing a metal tag with her name
engraved on it, charges guests a minimum of Rp 80,000 (US$6.50)
for a maximum one hour service. Her fee is higher for an
overnight duration.
From her earnings, Nike must pay her pimp, who is also the
brothel keeper, Rp 10,000 for every hour she spends with a john.
She also has to pay a monthly fee of Rp 3,500 to the city's
Social Services Agency, which supervises the prostitution
complex.
Nike works at the 27-room Starky 2, touted as one of the most
famous pleasure palaces on the site.
She works from a nine-square-meter room furnished with a comfy
queen size spring bed, a small wooden wardrobe, a wooden dressing
table and a 1.5-square-meter open latrine.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Nike, about 154 centimeters
tall and weighing 45 kilograms, said she entered the sex business
about two years ago of her own volition.
Family's welfare
A junior high school graduate, she claimed that operating as a
legal prostitute at Kramat Tunggak had helped her support her
aging parents and three sisters in Semarang, Central Java, as she
could send them about Rp 300,000 per month.
She also said she had savings in the bank.
Nike usually earns Rp 200,000 a day from having sex with an
average of two customers and accompanying up to four men for
drinks.
A newcomer to the complex also griped about the poor business.
"Men only like to come here now for drink. Few want sex even
though my service charge (Rp 50,000) is much lower than the
others," said Icha (not her real name) from West Java who arrived
four months ago.
Cheapest
When converted to the American greenback, the price of Kramat
Tunggak prostitutes may rank among the cheapest in the world.
For years, the site -- located not far from the Tanjung Priok
seaport -- was also popular among foreign sailors.
"But business here is very slow these days," Icha said.
Ojek driver Solichin, 62, who has been in the area since 1975,
said his daily income had now dropped to only Rp 10,000.
In January, he said, he could still collect between Rp 15,000
and Rp 20,000 a day.
"These are hard days now."
Bartender, Toni (not his real name), who works at the Monggo
Mas brothel, said the crisis had slashed the brothel's income and
liquor sales.
"Last year, we could sell at least two crates (48 bottles) of
beer a day. But in January to April, we could sell only 10
bottles on average every other day," he said.
A bottle of beer sells for about Rp 8,000.
The income of room rental fees has also declined as about five
of the 12 girls had returned to their hometowns.
"They are still worried about possible riots in this city,"
said Toni.
During May's riots, the complex became a ghost town as all of
the sex workers abruptly left the site for their hometowns.
The complex was blockaded by security forces in an attempt to
avoid damage from the mobs.
Toni hoped that a new look at Kramat Tunggak could lure more
clients to come for fun at the site.
Dozens of prostitutes from red-light districts in Semarang and
Cibitung (Bekasi) had entered the complex last week following the
closure of their former places and the weakening business as
well.
Like the other occupants of the complex, Toni also opposed the
proposal of North Jakarta Mayor Soebagyo, who last week urged the
governor to close down the red-light area as it had failed in its
aim to be a rehabilitation center for sex workers.
"Can't he see that this business just can't be stopped as long
as there are men out there who want to experience a different
sexual experience from what they could get from their legal
spouses," he said.
A woman vendor who sells miscellaneous items, from clothes to
radios and electric fans, to the sex workers on credit, was also
upset when she was told about the mayor's plan.
"Oh my God. Is that true? Please, don't do that. This is the
only thing which can provide me with money now," she said. (cst)