Surabaya – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) urged on Thursday the Surabaya administration not to forcibly close Dolly, dubbed Southeast Asia's largest red-light district, as the sex workers had rejected the planned closure.

"In a democracy, there should be no coercion. The government should not forcibly close [Dolly]," Komnas HAM commissioner Dianto Bachriadi told hundreds of sex workers at a sit-in in the district.

Dianto said the local administration needed to protect its residents whatever their professions, adding that the policy to close Dolly had the potential to cause economic losses. "Dolly has generated income not only for the sex workers but also for the inhabitants living nearby," he said.

Dianto added that the administration could only close down the red-light district if there had been violations against the law. "Any alleged violation needs be proved first in court."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/06/13/dolly-should-not-be-closed-komnas-ham.html