Jambi – The planned closure of the Payosigadung or Pucuk red-light district by the Jambi municipality has been met by opposition from local residents.

One local resident Eli, 45, said she and her children would not have food on the table if Pucuk was closed because she relied on it to make a living. "What will we eat if Payodigadung is closed. The Rp 1.8 million (US$154) in compensation given to us will never be enough," Eli said on Wednesday.

A neighborhood unit head in Rawasari subdistrict, Sudadi Rusman, said he and 179 other household heads in the red-light district owed the bank around Rp 700 million. Therefore, he was appealing for the planned closure to be postponed.

"Give us until the end of 2016," Sudadi said, adding that if any one of them opposed the closure beyond the extended deadline, they would be ready to face the consequences, such as being evicted.

The Jambi municipality is providing compensation of Rp 5 million for business owners and Rp 1.8 million for sex workers and pimps to cover living expenses, plus an additional Rp 300,000 for transportation costs, allowing them to return to their places of origin.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/28/locals-oppose-jambi-brothel-closure.html