The Jakarta administration'€™s plan to close down the Kalijodo red-light district and relocate the residents is likely to meet with success as authorities push forward more quickly with their plan to rid the city of prostitution and crime.

On Monday, officials from the Jakarta Police, the Jakarta Military Command, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) and West and North Jakarta administrations held a coordination meeting to discuss the closing of Kalijodo at the Jakarta Police headquarters.

Kalijodo, home to the city'€™s largest red-light district, hit the headlines following a collision last week between a Toyota Fortuner and a motorcycle in which four people died.

The driver of the Fortuner, Riki Agung Prasetio, was declared a suspect for violating the Traffic Law. Riki reportedly drank alcohol at a cafe in Kalijodo before the accident.

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama insists the city administration will shut down the Kalijodo area as it has had too many negative impacts on society.

'€œThe city will close down the Kalijodo area and build a green open space,'€ Ahok said.

The police have voiced support for the plan and stated they will take measures to ensure a safe and smooth operation to shut down the area.

"This is the right moment for us to carry out a law enforcement operation to eliminate preman [thugs], alcoholic beverage distribution and prostitution, especially in the Kalijodo area," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal said on Monday.

Hundreds of personnel will reportedly be deployed to close down the Kalijodo area. The Indonesian Military has said it will back up the police in the operation.

Kalijodo is full of thugs who are active in criminal activity and the police say they will map out gangster movements in the area to avoid violence perpetrated by any party that resists the closing down of Kalijodo and the residents'€™ relocation.

East Jakarta Mayor Rustam Efendi says his administration has started disseminating information on the plan to Kalijodo residents.

As reported earlier, the Jakarta administration will relocate Kalijodo residents to low-cost apartments in several areas, such as Marunda and Daan Mogot.

Kalijodo residents received notification letters on Monday that informed them that the red-light district would be converted into a green area.

"We will keep promoting the plan until the residents understand," Rustam said.

Currently, the Jakarta administration is collecting data to determine the exact number of people living in the area.

Rustam said his administration would offer skills training at its vocational training centers to Kalijodo residents who wanted to change their professions. For people in Kalijodo who do not have Jakarta identity cards, the administration will assist them to return to their hometowns, he said.

Rustam said the Jakarta administration expected to finish the closing down of Kalijodo and the relocation of its residents by the end of the year.

About 300 residents will reportedly be relocated from Kalijodo. The Jakarta administration will prepare 300 low-cost apartments for evicted residents.

Separately, the Jakarta Public Housing Agency said the administration was collecting data to differentiate between longtime Kalijodo residents and newcomers and to categorize their professions, including prostitutes and beverage sellers.

"Our principle is to provide low-cost apartments to people who need them," Public Housing Agency chairwoman Ika Lestari told thejakartapost.com on Monday. (ebf)(+)

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