Kalijodo Demolition Not to Eradicate Prostitution: Ahok
13 February 2016 17:16 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama clarified that the city administration’s plan to flatten the semi-permanent structures in Kalijodo area was not to eradicate prostitution practices in Jakarta.
Ahok added that prostitution had been a problem in the city since a long time ago.
“For me, prostitution has persisted since the prophet era. It’s impossible to eradicate. [Prostitutes] usually get Rp 200,000 (US$15) per session. They won’t be interested in working in a kitchen for Rp 3 million (US$222) [a month],” Ahok told journalists at the City Hall on Saturday, February 13, 2016.
Ahok revealed that the main reason to demolish structures in Kalijodo was to restore the city’s greenway.
“The problem is that Kalijodo is a greenway. If that’s not the case and they don’t throw litter into the river, there won’t be a problem,” Ahok explained.
Earlier, Ahok announced that the city administration would knock down night entertainment spots in Kalijodo, North Jakarta to build a park in the area. The city administration would also repatriate sex workers who were not Jakarta residents.
Ahok had been scheduled for a meeting with Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian on Monday, February 15, 2016 to discuss and disseminate the plan with Kalijodo residents.
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