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Issue of the day: East Kalimantan thick with prostitution
Feb
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eb. 28, 2016
In conjunction with the government's efforts to close down all red-light districts in Indonesia, the Social Affairs Ministry has started listing districts targeted for closure and in so doing has revealed that East Kalimantan is the province with the largest number of prostitution areas.
There are around 4,000 sex workers spread across 31 red-light districts in East Kalimantan, according to data from the ministry.
'Previously, it was East Java that had the largest number of prostitution locations. But since they were shut down, now East Kalimantan has the largest number of red-light districts. We will close down all 31 districts,' Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said in Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan, on Saturday as quoted by Antara News Agency.
Your comments:
This is not specific to Indonesia for Islam. It's a global trend. Prostitution, right or wrong, is called a form of modern slavery and there are several organizations, without religious affiliation, lobbying for closure of red-light districts around the globe.
Indonesia has just jumped on the bandwagon. The Islamic forces have then tried to highjack it and make it a 'holy' thing.
Orang Biasa
There is no way that prostitution can be eradicated. It can be controlled to a certain extent by creating enough jobs for these victims of circumstance. If you close them down, they will go underground or somewhere else.
Loh Taun
In East Kalimantan, it is not just the 'normal' hookers, a lot of men who have lost their mining/oil and gas jobs are pimping out their wives and daughters!
Chicken Afternoon
You cannot stop it. The girls need the money. There is no welfare system in Indonesia. They will just move to another location.
Tipartnorm
All politics is local. Allowing Islamists to run amok, the targeting of prostitutes and LGBT groups, and the endless talks about a drugs emergency are a means of advancing Jokowi's populist agendas.
He is, after all, an astute politician whose primary focus, just like any other politician, is to remain in power. These 'issues' appeal directly to the good sense of the Indonesian (and increasingly Islamist) public.
His team must have done numerous surveys which would have indicated that gay people, prostitutes and drugs, rightly or wrongly, are the people's main concerns.
The populist President knew that. So when the going gets tough just play one of these 'cards' and Bob's your uncle.
And he knew that he could easily win another five-year term by just appearing to be tough on these issues alone come election time.
Abuabu
Bali and Batam will be next and while the tourism industry will suffer a 60 percent drop, on the other hand the child-abuse rate of 40 percent will increase to 75 percent.
Boneng
Yes, I heard the government is sending them all to Turkey where they are always welcomed. Istanbul is a popular stop to make a few of their well-known, internationally distributed porn movies.
XS
Next Bali, I assume ' and then they can instantly redesign it as a popular halal holiday destination, an idea was put a few months ago. Anyway, another entry in the book of super-glorious ideas for the government.
How about Puncak? Bogor? Bandung? Along most overland main-roads? Heck, prostitution is basically everywhere.
Rather strange for such a pious country as such supply only exists when there is demand for it. Heavy demand.
And please, don't forget soon condoms will probably also be on the list of prohibited items that aren't allowed to be sold over the counter to curb 'promiscuous behavior'.
Already now condoms are treated as contraband when moral raids are taking place. E.g. during Valentine's Day (or shortly before).
Next on the list will be that people need to be dressed 'decent' at all times, not to offend anybody, e.g.
All women in this great moral nation have to wear hair covering and loose long skirts down to the ankle, loose shorts with long sleeves,
have to sit sideways on their
motor cycles when transported, driver can only be someone of the family, etc. There's still so much to implement.
Doc Feelgood
I think their thinking is upside down, closing such places will increase the rate of HIV not decrease it as they seem to think.
Jakfan
