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Anyone familiar with Surabaya will definitely know Dolly, a red-light district, which, some people have mentioned to be one of South Asia’s largest. The fact that Dolly is a big thing certainly means that it has great potentials especially in contributing to regional income. Not only that, other businesses (non-sex-oriented) flourish in the area as a result of Dolly’s magnetic potentials. However, behind all its fame, Dolly also causes a degree of uneasiness to residents who live in the vicinity by spawning excess activities such as crime and drug abuse. People would easily look at this district as the number one source of HIV/AIDS (but I believe that drug abuse, statistically speaking is the #1 cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS here…correct me if I’m wrong, please!). Another concern is that Dolly, in a way, encourages human trafficking. Don’t forget the psychological pressures that (non-prostitute) residents of the vicinity (especially children) have to endure. After considering all these aspects, then the amount of regional income Dolly might be able to generate is nothing compared to its destructive potentials that threaten the city.

Sparkling Surabaya is a new vision that the local authorities have conceived, and it aims at encouraging tourism in Surabaya to develop. Bearing that in mind, then it is apparent that marketing the city is something everyone should consider. However, even the dumbest of people can understand that marketing the city by taking using prostitution as packaging is a sensitive issue. It would even put shame on some people’s faces; and if we force the idea, we can expect a great deal of friction with religious parties, and other humanitarian organizations. But that is no reason to turn our backs on Dolly! One solution to take advantage of Dolly’s potential is to rehabilitate the red-light district, but retain its reputation as a red-light district, and market it as a sex-tourism district. Before you get me wrong, what I meant was to promote Dolly as a former red-light district (not promoting the fact that Dolly is a red-light district!), just like Amsterdam’s notorious de Wallen area. Imagine the amount of credit Surabaya’s city government will get if they succeed in rehabilitating Dolly as did the Amsterdam city government de Wallen (Jawa Pos 5th & 6th February 2008)! Can readers imagine a red-light Fashion District instead of an actual red-light District? The creative industry sector is the most suitable agent-of-change (in my opinion). The existence of art galleries will certainly be more appreciated compared to sex and a few cafes.

Resistance will certainly arise especially from those who work in brothels with unemployment being the most common reason. They should bear in mind, however, that if the rehabilitation project is successful, then jobs will certainly be available automatically. Cleaning out this district will also reduce various crimes, including drug abuse and human trafficking. The spread of HIV/AIDS will also be reduced. (I know I know, I’m being too optimistic!)

We should keep in mind that even if Dolly can be fully rehabilitated, the project will not totally wipe out prostitution. This idea is also not an overnight miracle stuff. But at least this idea can present a reflecting point; that even something that society has deemed as rotten and hopeless can become something good, just like the ugly caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly.

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