Koja, Jakarta

Koja is a subdistrict of North Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It is known as the location of Kampung Tugu, a historic Portuguese-influenced neighborhood in North Jakarta.

Koja contains the eastern section of Tanjung Priok Port (which contains the Container Terminal 1, Container Terminal 3, and Koja Container Terminal^[1]), Jakarta's main port. The Sunter Canal flows to the sea via Koja, its outlet lies on the boundary between Koja Subdistrict and Cilincing Subdistrict.

The boundaries of Koja is Jakarta Bay to the north, Laksamana Yos Sudarso Tollway to the west, Pelabuhan Minyak - Kali Baru - Kramat Jaya Road - Kali Cakung to the east, and Kali Batik to the south.

History

Kampung Tugu

The descendants are Portuguese and became slaves by Dutch when took over Malacca in 1551. Their Dutch masters set them free in 1661, only after they disowned their Poutuguese traits, including by converting to Protestantism from Catholicism, and changing their names to Dutch-sounding ones. They are given a scrap of land, 10 kilometers east of old Batavia in what is now Tugu Administrative Village in Koja Subdistrict, one of them is Melchior Leydekker (not a slave). Melchior Leydekker is a Dutch doctor of medicine and theology who was placed in Batavia (1675) as he was at that time the son-in-law of the Governor General Abraham van Riebeeck. This new area, called Tugu, was developed as a neighborhood for the slave-released Mardijker people (free men).^[2] This area, now called Kampung Tugu, is the oldest Christian neighborhood in the west of Indonesia. Several buildings in this neighborhood dates back to the 17th century, such as the Tugu Church, thought to be built between 1676-1678.^[3]

The neighborhood still exists today, and retains its own distinct culture characteristic of Jakarta, such as the Portuguese-influenced musical style Kroncong Tugu spoken in the extinct Papia Tugu language.^[4]

Red-light district

In 1972, a red-light district known as Kramat Tunggak (abbreviated as Kramtung) was established in Tugu Utara Administrative Village. The neighborhood covers an area of 109.435 m². Since its establishment, the neighborhood was constantly opposed by the local Muslim community. In 1998, the governor decided to close the red-light district.^[5] The entire red-light district was officially closed^[6] on December 31, 1999. At the time of the closing, the area contained 277 brothels, with 1,615 prostitutes under supervision of 258 brothel keepers - which were rehabilitated afterwards.^[7][8]

In 2002, an Islamic learning center called Jakarta Islamic Centre (JIC) was established on the site of the former red-light district. The establishment was finished in 2003, the complex covers an area of 7 ha and contains a 6,000 m² mosque and a place for Islamic learning.^[9][10]

Kelurahan (Administrative Village)

The subdistrict of Penjaringan is divided into seven kelurahan ("administrative villages"):

• Koja Utara - area code 14210
• Koja Selatan - area code 14220
• Rawa Badak Utara - area code 14230
• Rawa Badak Selatan - area code 14230
• Tugu Utara - area code 14260
• Tugu Selatan - area code 14260
• Lagoa - area code 14270

List of important places

• Jakarta Islamic Center (built on former Kramat Tunggak red-light district)
• Rawa Badak Stadium
• Protestant Church of Kampung Tugu

References