Gunung Antang Prostitution Still Stands On PT KAI's Land, Residents: Hopefully It's Not Just A Formality

JAKARTA - The demolition of the Gunung Antang prostitution area has not been carried out by the Satpol PP, PT KAI and the East Jakarta City Government, which raises big questions from the surrounding community.

Residents suspect that there are many specific interests from the relevant agencies regarding the existence of the phenomenal prostitution localization in the East Jakarta area.

"The PT KAI and the local government also don't have any firmness, right, if you disassemble it, you disassemble it, the layman doesn't have a question mark, what does this mean?" said Head of RW 09 Palmeriam Village, Sutrisno when confirmed by reporters, Tuesday, July 26.

The management of RW 09 Palmeriam Urban Village asked PT KAI as the land owner to be more assertive in controlling the localization of Mount Antang, Matraman, East Jakarta.

Head of RW 09 Palmeriam Urban Village, Sutrisno, said that firmness was needed so that the residents of the lokalisasi really dismantled the building independently.

In addition, a firm attitude is also important so that the control plan is not seen as something ordinary or a mere formality.

"Hopefully it's not just a formality, it's true that there will be enforcement so that in the future it won't be considered 'normal'," said Sutrisno.

Furthermore, PT KAI also needs to coordinate with the East Jakarta City Government and security forces to review whether the residents of the Gunung Antang localization have demolished their buildings independently or not, including giving a strong warning if there are still illegal buildings in the PT KAI area.

"From PT KAI, from the regional government (East Jakarta City Government), from the police there is no action to the location, there is no ultimatum that is really firm," he regrets.

Even until the deadline of the end of July, PT KAI officers have not yet visited the location of the prostitution which is planned to be demolished.

Until the socialization of independent demolition was held on June 30, 2022 at the Jatinegara District Office Hall and until now, the illegal building for the Gunung Antang localization is still standing and even operating again.

Sutrisno said they were given until August 2, 2022 to carry out independent demolition.

"There is no sign of control yet, in the letter it is clear that the residents on Mount Antang must unload independently, but they are given a time limit until the 2nd (August), then they are forced to dismantle.

Previously, said Sutrisno, the localization, which is known as a place for prostitution and gambling, had stopped operating due to the attack by a gang of thugs from Gunung Antang to the residential area of RW 01, Kelurahan Rawa Bunga, Jatinegara, East Jakarta.

The attacks occurred Sunday, June 12 and Monday, June 13. The gang of Gunung Antang thugs attacked using sharp weapons, stones, and firearms.

"About a week ago, it started being active again. Previously it had stopped because the situation was not conducive. The music sounded again, only slowly, if it used to be really loud," he said.

Sutrisno further explained that the localization of Mount Antang had existed around 1975. Its existence rose and fell with the enforcement.

"This (localization) has been around since 1975, it's been more than 40 years," he said.

Sutrisno estimates that there are approximately 60-100 illegal buildings in the lokalisasi.

"There are 60-100 wild beds, mostly residents from outside. Only wild people are there," he said.