Legalize border marts, govt urged<\/p>\n
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Provincial councillors are
\ndemanding that the central government legalize the crime-prone
\nillegal markets that are proliferating along the Indonesian -
\nEast Timorese border in Kupang.<\/p>\n
Councillor Karel Y. Mbuik, chairman of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, Mell Adoe
\nchairman of Golkar Party faction, Yahidin Umar, chairman of the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) faction told The Jakarta Post in
\nseparate interviews on Friday that 'illegal' markets were in
\nreality helpful for boosting the local economy.<\/p>\n
\"If we legalize the markets it will make it a lot easier for
\nlocal authorities to supervise and control them,\" Karel Y. Mbuik
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The local administration could then impose legal levies on the
\ntraders after their operations are legalized, he said.<\/p>\n
Sharing his opinion, Mell Adoe expressed his surprise that the
\ncentral government had yet to take prompt action against the
\nillegal markets.<\/p>\n
\"The border is vulnerable to crime. Therefore, these illegal
\nmarkets need to be legally managed, or we will have more serious
\nproblems in the future,\" Adoe said, without specifying what type
\nof crime actually took place at the markets.<\/p>\n
The money circulated in the markets amounts to a large amount
\neach day. The East Timorese traders use Australian dollars, while
\nthe Indonesian traders use the rupiah.<\/p>\n
The Australian dollar is the legal currency in the former
\nIndonesian province of East Timor. (30\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legalize-border-marts-govt-urged-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}