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Ahok gives Kalijodo residents 11-day ultimatum
Struggle for life: Residents on a busy street of Kalijodo, North Jakarta, on Tuesday
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Struggle for life: Residents on a busy street of Kalijodo, North Jakarta, on Tuesday. The Jakarta administration plans to close down the infamous red-light district and transform it into green space. (Antara/Rivan Awal Lingga) (Antara/Rivan Awal Lingga)
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span class="inline inline-center">Struggle for life: Residents on a busy street of Kalijodo, North Jakarta, on Tuesday. The Jakarta administration plans to close down the infamous red-light district and transform it into green space. (Antara/Rivan Awal Lingga)
Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama plans to close down North Jakarta's infamous red-light district Kalijodo in 11 days by giving local residents prior warning to leave the area peacefully.
The city administration will issue on Thursday the first warning letter reminding Kalijodo residents that they are occupying state land that the city administration plans to clear for transformation into green space, Ahok said on Wednesday.
The city will also ask residents to dismantle their houses within seven days. If they do not comply with the request, a second warning letter will be issued three days before the deadline, after which city administration officials will come to clear the buildings. There are around 1,000 residents in Kalijodo, according to data compiled by the city administration.
"If they don't want to tear apart their houses by themselves, we will do it," Ahok told journalists in at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Wednesday.
Ahok was at the Jakarta Police headquarters to meet with Jakarta Police chief Ins. Gen. Tito Karnavian to discuss the city's plan to clear the Kalijodo area.
The historic red-light district came into the public spotlight following a drunk-driving accident that killed four people earlier this month. The accident occurred after the driver and his friends had spent a night drinking in Kalijodo, which is known for its cafes and pubs, prostitution services as well as gambling.
Despite the harsh warnings Ahok said that evicted residents who had Jakarta ID cards (KTP) would be relocated to subsidized apartments, given a Jakarta Smart Card for children's education and health insurance through the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) scheme.
Moreover, the city administration will also provide some residents with soft loans of up to Rp 10 million (US$741) with only 1 percent monthly interest for them to start new business after their existing employment ends with the closure of the district.
However, the city will conduct a selection process before granting the loans.
"We will assess their character and manner. This doesn't mean that if you are relocated, you will directly receive a loan. Do you think this is your father's money?" Ahok said.
Ahok has previously said that he aimed to shut down Kalijodo and return to its original purpose as green space in line with the city's plan to add more parks to the capital.
The Kalijodo shutdown will also play a key role in Jakarta's flood management, Ahok said, adding that water always flows from South Jakarta to North Jakarta as it is the meeting point of Angke River, Item River and East Flood Canal.
However, Jakarta's administration faces resistance from local people and gangs that operate in the area.
At least 20 people cancelled their registration for relocation to low-cost apartments after being threatened by local thugs, Ahok claimed.
The residents said they would resist the evictions and challenged Ahok, saying that buildings there had official land certificates.
The Jakarta Police with the support of Jakarta Military Command will secure the eviction and relocation process, with the Jakarta Police planning to launch operation Cipta Kondisi on Thursday aiming to raid Kalijodo following the announcement of the shutdown.(rin)
