Hundreds of sex workers and residents in central Indonesia took to the streets to protest against the closure and planned redevelopment of the historic Dolly quarter of Surabaya, police said.
Mayor Tri Rismahani was due to officially close the red-light district, said to be South-East Asia’s largest, on Wednesday.
Sex workers, brothel owners and local residents burned tires and chanted “Sex workers cannot be defeated’’ as they gathered at Dolly to voice their opposition to the plan.
Police said that they had deployed nearly 1,000 personnel to prevent trouble when the mayor formally declares the closure.
“We do not want clashes,’’ East Java police spokesman, Awi Setiono said.
The city government has promised about 1,200 of the district’s sex workers compensation of up to 5 million rupiah (417 dollars) and alternative job training.
Critics said that closing the district could create new problems, including uncontained prostitution as sex workers are forced to ply their trade on the streets.
Report says prostitution is illegal in Indonesia but red light districts are often tolerated.
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