lumumba
Just now on Global TV news the Bali police have been arrested many PSK (commercial Sex)in Kuta and Seminiak.
I must agree that last time I was in Bali, especially in the Kuta area I did see quite a lot of prostitutes, and not only at night time.
The day time approach will be; do you like a massage? Special one, I have my motorbike to go……….special price just for you.
Maybe was getting a bit out of hand and they decided to crack down on this sort of commerce
Behind every action there is always a reason, was this the right reason? (Out of hands)
What do you think :?:
Regards
L.
SG
[quote]If a ceremony is coming up, the girls get hounded and fleeced by the arsehole banjar police.[/quote]
We live around the corner from a very well known 'house' and the uniformed lads are there outside pretty much every late evening we go past. I've lost track of the number of times I've seen a police car, often the red tourist police jeeps, sitting there whilst some guy runs out with a envelope. It's a source of some comment in the area.
They seem, funnily enough, to operate with impunity! I wonder if there is any connection with the envelopes?
Adam
Hi Lumumba,
Nothing unusual about the Bali police (though mostly police wannabe's from the banjar) picking on the prostitutes in the area, it happens quite regularly. I can promise you it has nothing to do with looking after the tourists in the area or security, pure and simple it's ALWAYS about the MONEY, I wonder how much 'business girl' money has been used to fund the substantial temples in the Kuta / Legian / Seminyak area - lots i'm guessing. If a ceremony is coming up, the girls get hounded and fleeced by the arsehole banjar police.
Actually, the way the prostitutes get treated in Kuta etc. really makes my blood boil to be perfectly honest and they have it good compared to the Sanur girls. Sure, I think prostitution is a hideous occupation, but the girls are still human afterall and are only trying to make a living. The majority of them are well behaved but a few do get up to mischief (usually bencong/lady boys rather than real women) or are junkies (but then, so are most clubbers in Seminyak :roll: )but they get sorted out quite quick. Sadly, Balinese men in particular are particularly horrible to these poor girls and will get whatever cash they can out of them any which way possible, whether it be transport, security at the discotheque etc etc. Every now and again the banjar / police do a sweeping raid and collect up as many girls as they can and lighten their pockets for them. Funny (or not :shock: ), but I notice the banjar and police spending far more time focused on lining their own pockets from hookers than doing real police work. Anybody who thinks they are doing a good job in terms of security the nightclub precincts is dreaming.
Being a Javanese working in Bali (the majority of prostitutes come from Java, though there are others from North Bali, Lombok and Sulawesi) my wife had a couple of friends who were kupu kupu malam and they were very sweet, nice girls that didn't have much of a choice than to do what they were doing as most of them are usually single mothers. Some of their stories were really sad, including one of the girls who was gang raped because she couldn't pay her way out of a 'bust'. I used to think the working girls were a bit of a pain in the backside to be honest, but since I've learned of their treatment I try to do my best to take care of the girls when I'm out clubbing. The next banjar clown I tell to get nicked for picking on a hooker won't be the last I'm sure.
Regards
Adam
Sumatra
So,
The Banjar police are just pimps with a badge to hide behind? Cops have always put the squeeze on dope dealers and hookers anyway, they're the perfect victims.
Maybe envelopes make the "coerced collection" a little more formal, like when the donation basket is passed around during catholic church services.
Don :wink:
mimpimanis
[quote] my wife had a couple of friends who were kupu kupu malam and they were very sweet, nice girls that didn't have much of a choice than to do what they were doing as most of them are usually single mothers[/quote]
My mum was a single parent and never had to resort to prostitution. Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with it..... but hell I cant but help remember when Adam ranted at us with pembantus! I for one would rather see a girl cleaning for a living than F**king, especially a mother. But then hey Im a mum not a guy, with a wife to pick up after me! :mrgreen:
SG
There was a pretty shocking doco on Al Jaz last year about families selling their daughters into prostitution from Central Java, for work mostly in Jakarta. It was terrifying how widespread it was and how few saw a problem with it. Some were just selling the youngest daughters for house extensions. Some mothers were former sex workers thus turning it into a generational thing. Poverty seemed to play a lessor role than greed.
tintin
Poverty is a good aphrodesiac. :(
lumumba
Kadek
Sorry I forgot to write that the easy many are for them self, nothing to do with Temples. :evil:
L
SG
lumumba, don't confuse the Pecalang with the Balinese (Indonesian) police force. These are entirely different entities.
But Kadek, I've also been witness to some pretty heavy stuff by Pecalang which could only be described as extortion. I'm aware that it is not common but it happens.
lumumba
SG
[b]lumumba, don't confuse the Pecalang with the Balinese (Indonesian) police force. These are entirely different entities.[/b] :roll:
Don’t worry; I don’t confuse the 2 different entities. I have just stated what I thought and I still thinking Adam was trying to tell us.
I believe that whoever’s dealing with the prostitutes are filling their own pockets, most of the times. Here in Bandung it is so anyway, for Bali it is for you (not you personally) to decide.
Must go,
Cheers :lol:
Kadek
[quote] Nothing unusual about the Bali police (though mostly police wannabe's from the banjar) picking on the prostitutes in the area, it happens quite regularly. I can promise you it has nothing to do with looking after the tourists in the area or security, pure and simple it's ALWAYS about the MONEY, I wonder how much 'business girl' money has been used to fund the substantial temples in the Kuta / Legian / Seminyak area - lots i'm guessing. If a ceremony is coming up, the girls get hounded and fleeced by the arsehole banjar police. [/quote]
Adam,
If you are referring to the Pecalang (the Balinese traditional adat security), then I think your comment is way out of line to suggest that the banjar would do fund raising activity for a temple by fleecing some prostitutes! Westerns people always like proof with anything, so have you got any proof to show this is happening?
Offering to a temple and or the making of a temple is governed by strict rules of honesty and devotion that must come from sincerity of the hearts of the worshippers. I guess you haven’t any idea how much fees and contribution a Balinese pays, contributes and donates for a temple ceremony, renovation and building of a temple. Next time perhaps you can ask someone about this.
Pecalang are not wannabe police officers, they are [b] volunteers [/b] selected by the Banjar and Desa Adat for the purpose of securing religious and adat activities. And Sumatra, they are not pimps!
They receive no money for their times and they are doing their job as part of their village obligation. They are primarily meant to secure activities of the Adat such as making sure a temple ceremony is running smoothly, traffic in and around the ceremony is managed, any other activities considered ‘leteh’ and could pollute the ceremony are managed out of the temple’s proximity. They also secure passage for processions such as cremation procession to the cemetery.
Lack of cultural sensitivity is in my opinion the root of many misunderstandings. I wouldn’t be surprised if the pecalang do round up prostitutes that choose to operate near or in proximity of a temple or a ceremony and according to the banjar’s awing-awing give these women a fine. The banjar adat is in my opinion pretty tolerance towards people, but when things such as prostitutions and illegal residents are getting out of control and the police aren’t able to control these then maybe the banjar’s patience is wearing thin.
A question. Why then are these women choosing to stay in Bali, if they can’t find decent and honest jobs? There are always choices. Maybe these women need to consider works that involve more hard work and not just putting a lipstick and mini skirt on. I think this is a very lazy attitude!!
and as you said, they are disadvantaged cause they have been subjected to raid and fine so often, why aren't these be incentives for them to change occupation? Clearly what they are doing is not welcome in the area.
lumumba
[b](If you are referring to the Pecalang (the Balinese traditional adat security), then I think
your comment is way out of line to suggest that the banjar would do fund raising activity for a temple by fleecing some prostitutes! Westerns people always like proof with anything, so have you got any proof to show this is happening?)[/b]
Kadek
I think Adam was trying to tell us that the Bali police since a public holiday is coming up (any kind of holiday, not just the next one) they need some extra money to be able to celebrate in a better way and this where they will getting the “easy” money from. :roll:
This is happening here in Bandung, especially before Lebaran, and not only with prostitute but with other serious business too.
[b](Westerns people always like proof with anything, so have you got any proof to show this is happening?)[/b]
About this, YES I do have proof, since it dose happen to me every single year, any excuses to make extra EASY cash. :P
L.
Kadek
lumumba, there are several things (a) [b] Hansip [/b] (village security but not related to Adat or religion); (b) [b]Satpam[/b] (security that guards banks etc); (c) [b]POLISI[/b] (Indonesian police force) who are renowned for on grounds corruption and then there is (d) [b]Pecalang[/b] (Traditional village security related to religion/Hindu. So I doubt that you would have Pecalang in Bandung. Pecalang is also not vigilante.
and also I am well aware of the level of corruption that is happening in Bali either with the police or other things that relate to everyday life.
SG,
Yes, I know there have been some issues with Pecalang taking matter into their own hands, but this is an exception. and if they do extort, then it would probably be for the benefit of their own pockets and certainly not sanction or ordered by the banjar. In any case, these people would likely not be selected as Pecalang again once found out or there is a complaint about them.
Also Pecalang are not supposed to handle social issues such as prostitution but it has been reported that they have deliberately or maybe more not deliberately extend that ways - maybe they or the banjar are also frustrated by the lack of action by the police??
I am not from the south of Bali and I haven't heard any misuse of power by Pecalang in my village.
lumumba
Kadek
Thank you very much for your lesson on “Several Things” I’m well aware of the differences, now even more. I am not debating who’s doing what and how.
Going back to the issue. What I did was just reporting what the TV channel was showing.
My question was: Behind every action there is always a reason, was this the right reason? (Out of hands)What do you think?
Afterwards I’ve reported what is happening in Bandung: Here in Bandung it is so anyway, for Bali it is for you (not you personally) to decide.
Thank again
Sumatra
Kadek,
Thank you for the clarification of the various security and police forces on Bali. I'm pretty familiar with most of the alphabet soup police agencies in the US.
The "pimp" remark was rather harsh but unfortunately true for certain people, hiding behind a badge of authority and using it to line their pockets with unearned income, sorry.
Don
