Some Ex-Dolly Sex Workers Have not Received Compensation

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Surabaya city administration is monitoring the fate of sex workers from the closed Dolly and Jarak red light districts who have not received compensation. "At that time many (rooms) were locked, since they refused the compensation money. We are proposing how they might receive it. It is a pity that they have not received it," Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said, while attending a plenary session at the Surabaya City Legislative Council (DPRD) on Friday. Rismaharini noted that the workers refused compensation money from the city government because of pressure from others who banned them from picking up their compensation money. She said around 20 sex workers had come to the sub-district military command post to pick up their compensation, which would be used as capital for setting up businesses. "It is a pity that they have not received it. Therefore, we will propose that they pick up the compensation money at the sub-district military command post, because we know their addresses," she said. Further, Rismaharini said the city administration had provided workers with special training long before the red light district was closed. Therefore, she had the backing to close the largest brothel in Southeast Asia. "We provided them with training for a long time. In fact, when Mr Bambang was Surabaya mayor they received training every year, because we had funds for it," she said. The Dolly red light area was permanently closed on June 18. Following the closure of the Dolly area, authorities such as the Social Ministry and government of East Java province offered total compensation of Rp1.5 billion to Dolly's prostitutes and others who were affected by the closing. (*) Reporting by Abdul Hakim