M

em>March 2, p. 9

South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany is calling on residents to help the administration combat increasing levels of prostitution in the 4-year-old municipality, following complaints lodged by local clerics.

Your comments:

Reading such an article is like reading a comic book.

Approximately 30 years ago in the city of Balikpapan there was an area called “the valley of hope” where prostitutes offered their services and were easily controlled by the public (dis)order agency without any dissonance in the community.

Use your imagination, Mr. Mayor, and introduce innovative ideas to overcome such trivial issues.

Jorith Arbier

Residents have no authority to conduct “sweeps” and appoint themselves as police.

Sheldon Archer

Mayor Diany, firstly, prostitution is an old profession and to think it could be eliminated, just forget it!

Secondly, as long as its level of
demand remains, no one can stop the supply. Thirdly, better designate a particular area for this business.

Fourthly, using residents’ help would be like adding fuel to the fire and innocent people would be targeted as well.

Lastly, it would be ironic to create another gang. Use wisdom, be real, take logical and practical steps based upon reality — emotional outbursts won’t be the solution.

Susanto