REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA - Dolly, Indonesia's biggest red light area located in Surabaya city, East Java province, was permanently closed on Wednesday night (June 18). Dolly was not only the biggest red light area in Indonesia but also in the Southeast Asian region. 

The closing was marked by a gathering held at the Islamic Center building in Surabaya city and was attended by Minister of Social Affairs Salim Segaf Al Jufri, Governor of East Java Soekarwo, Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini, Chief of Police of Surabaya, members of the regional legislative council, ulamas, and people living around the Dolly area.

"There is no need to maintain anything unless the positive thing," the minister said during the gathering event. "We have been working hard during the past 2-3 years to handle this issue," Jufri said.

The Wednesday gathering was also marked by a declaration made by the local people who pledged to keep their area prostitution-free. The declaration was made on paper and signed by representatives of the local people.

Meanwhile, Governor of the East Java province Soekarwo appreciated the closing of the Dolly area.

"This is a humanitarian effort. When Surabaya's Mayor Risma proposed to close Dolly, I approved her plan," stated Soekarwo.

When asked about the plan to send former Dolly's commercially sexual workers back to their respective hometowns, Soekarwo said that the local government had provided the funding for that plan.

Following the closing of Dolly area, related authorities such as the Ministry of Social Affairs and government of East Java province provide a total compensation of 1.5 billion IDR to Dolly's former commercially sexual workers and the people who will be affected by the decision. 

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