Fatal blast does not deter firecracker makers<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nTangerang<\/p>\n
Starting last year, police banned firecrackers in the celebration
\nof Idul Fitri and New Year holidays because they could cause
\nfatalities.<\/p>\n
But such a ban has not deterred people from producing
\nfirecrackers, although they are aware that they are illegal and
\ncould face the death sentence, as stipulated in Emergency Law no.
\n12\/1951.<\/p>\n
It happened to Sudarga, a villager from Ancol Tanggo, Ancol
\nPasir subdistrict, Jambe district, Tangerang, who runs a home-
\nbased firecracker businesss. He employed his three children to
\nproduce firecrackers. Unfortunately, two were killed by a blast
\nfrom six kilograms of gunpowder earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Sudarga is still at large after fleeing from Rangkas Bitung
\nHospital, where he was admitted due to his burns.<\/p>\n
Sudarga is not the only one in the village who runs an illegal
\nbusiness, as Jambe district, located some 40 kilometers southwest
\nof Tangerang, has long been known as a firecracker producer for
\nGreater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Firecrackers, traditionally, were always used to highlight
\nfestivities, including the celebration of Idul Fitri, which marks
\nthe end of the Ramadhan fasting month on Nov. 25.<\/p>\n
Winata, chief of the community unit, who also runs a business,
\nsaid that each child is able to produce at least 100 packs of
\nsmall firecrackers in three months of work.<\/p>\n
Each pack contains 100 petasan korek, the smallest variety of
\nfirecracker.<\/p>\n
"The children work every day after school until 9 p.m.
\nProducing firecrackers is an annual tradition in this village
\nbecause it is much more profitable compared with other jobs,"
\nWinata told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
Another firecracker maker, Usnan, 47, said that although many
\nyoung people in the subdistrict had jobs as farmers or ojek
\n(motorcycle taxi) drivers, they took the seasonal business
\nbecause it was more attractive.<\/p>\n
"The recent tragedy will not prevent us from making
\nfirecrackers. What happened to Sudarga's family was not the first
\noccurrence and will not be the last," he said.<\/p>\n
Usnan is also an agent who sells gunpowder and other materials
\nto the villagers. He claimed he had invested almost Rp 25 million
\n(US$2,941) this year alone.<\/p>\n
Housewife Masni, 27, and her three children have produced
\nfirecrackers for Idul Fitri for the past five years. Transforming
\nher dining room into a workplace, they can produce 10,000 packs
\nof petasan korek from a sack of gunpowder.<\/p>\n
"I invest only Rp 2.5 million. Then, in just one month, in
\nRamadhan, I can make up to Rp 6 million, although not all of the
\nfirecrackers have been sold," she said, adding that others also
\nmade a similar profit.<\/p>\n
Tigaraksa police chief Insp. Purwadi admitted that residents
\nof Jambe district would not heed warnings from the police.<\/p>\n
"They have for a long time run such illegal business and
\nalways ignored warnings the police repeatedly delivered," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He claimed that police had given warnings and raided the
\nhouses several times, which resulted in the confiscation of
\nhundreds of thousands of firecrackers.<\/p>\n
Firecracker business has something for everyone<\/p>\n
Ancol Pasir subdistrict controls nine villages and all of the
\nresidents take part in firecracker industry. Ancol Tanggo village
\nis known as the largest supplier of firecrackers.<\/p>\n
During The Jakarta Post's visit to the village recently, all
\nvillagers, who were drying firecrackers under the sun, were
\nsuspicious at the presence of strangers.<\/p>\n
Usnan, one of the producers, said that the villagers had been
\nwary of the presence of the press as it might ruin their
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
Along the road are small cabins beside houses, used as
\nworkplaces.<\/p>\n
Smoking is definitely forbidden around the cabins which are
\nfull of gunpowder and other inflammable materials, some
\nof which have leached onto the ground.<\/p>\n
Two types of firecracker makers exist: permanent and seasonal
\nproducers. The first have their own cabins and produce
\nfirecrackers on a commission basis, usually fulfilling orders
\nfrom organizers of festivals or celebratory events.<\/p>\n
The seasonal ones, who convert their homes to workplaces,
\nstart producing three months prior to and during Ramadhan, when
\ndemand for firecrackers reaches a peak.<\/p>\n
Established producers, whose business is inherited from their
\ndescendants, like Usnan's, become agents handling the procurement
\nof material and sales. Agents can also be found along the Parung
\nPanjang to Tigaraksa road.<\/p>\n
Regency public order officers have been accused of turning a
\nblind eye to the illegal business.<\/p>\n
According to one firecracker maker, Masni, the village had
\nnever received any warnings from the authorities.<\/p>\n
"Some people from the public order agency came here recently
\nto take payments of Rp 10,000 (US$1.18) for each large package of
\nfirecrackers at every house," she said. -- JP<\/p>",
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