East Java Governor Soekarwo last week announced that his administration planned to close down all the 47 red-light districts spread across the province's 33 regencies and municipalities by next year, or before the end of his term in 2014 at the latest.
He also said an unlimited budget would be allocated to realize the plan. The sooner they are all closed down the better. Morality programs need to be prioritized, he said. Soekarwo said his administration did not tolerate immoral
acts, thus relocation would not be an option in dealing with prostitution. All sex workers would be sent home after being given a dose of religion and appropriate life-skills training, such as how to sew rice or how to work in a factory. The
provincial administration will give them Rp 3 million [US$330] each to start a new life in their respective home villages, he said. The East Java branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which had for the last few years been running a
program called the Association of Preachers for Red-Light Districts will also contribute to life-skills training. Chairman of the association, Abdussomad Buchori, said of the sex workers sent packing: We give them religious instruction while
the administration provides them with skills and funding for a new life . Provincial councillor Kuswiyanto welcomed the administration's plan but warned that the strategy used must be clearly thought through. We need to talk to all the
stakeholders, especially those in the commercial-sex business, he said.
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