Some love firecrackers, some hate them<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many people say that not only are firecrackers and fireworks
\nannoying, they are also illegal and downright dangerous.<\/p>\n
So, how is it that so many people, especially young people,
\nenjoy playing with them, especially during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
\"It's entertaining, I like it,\" said Yusuf, 16, who lives in
\nthe Jagakarsa area of South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said he enjoyed the thrill of running away after lighting
\nthe fuses of fireworks.<\/p>\n
Yusuf, who always played with fireworks with his friends,
\nadmitted that his gang liked to scare people.<\/p>\n
\"It's good to see people get a fright and run away after we
\nset off a firecracker,\" the senior high school student told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
His pleasure, however, is other people's pain.<\/p>\n
One of his neighbors complained that the youths usually set
\noff firecrackers from as early as 2 a.m., when everybody was
\nstill asleep, until it was time for the predawn meal.<\/p>\n
\"It really bothers me. Many people have told them to stop
\nplaying with those things, but the kids won't listen,\" she said,
\nadding that she wished the police would put them in jail for a
\nday or two so that they would be deterred from antisocial
\nbehavior.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Jakarta Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Makbul
\nPadmanagara said that the producers, distributors and users of
\nfirecrackers could be charged under the public nuisance article
\nof the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
He also warned that they could even be charged with illegal
\npossession of ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of
\ndeath or life imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Yusuf's friend, Andi, admitted that firecrackers were
\ndangerous. \"I know they could endanger our lives. That's why I
\nalways use a longer fuse.\"<\/p>\n
He was confident that he would have enough time to get to
\nsafety if the firecrackers had longer fuses.<\/p>\n
Was he not aware that many people hated firecrackers?<\/p>\n
\"I know the noise disturbs people here, but we only get them
\nonce a year,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
He said that even his parents were angry at him for playing
\nwith firecrackers, but he just ignored them.<\/p>\n
Separately, Misto, a company employee, said that playing with
\nfireworks was a tradition for the Betawi people (native
\nJakartans).<\/p>\n
\"We always play with them during Ramadhan or to celebrate a
\nwedding,\" said Misto, who is a Betawi.<\/p>\n
In the past, according to Misto, people made fireworks
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
He did not accept that playing with firecrackers was a crime.<\/p>\n
\"I am not afraid if the police decide to arrest firecracker
\nusers. Many people play with them. Will the police arrest them
\nall?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Several vendors at Palmerah market, Central Jakarta, said they
\nsold firecrackers and fireworks because consumers asked for them.
\nThey sold them for between Rp 1,000 to Rp 5,000 each, depending
\non the size.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, I'm worried that the police could arrest me. But
\nthe other vendors do it too,\" said a firecracker vendor, who
\nrequested anonymity.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/some-love-firecrackers-some-hate-them-1447893297",
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