Aggressive hawkers

With much interest I read the statement of Mr. Emil Salim in The Jakarta Post of April 30, 1996, regarding the destruction of the Bali landscape, especially in the Gianyar/Ubud area, east of Denpasar. Having just returned from the "Island of the Gods", I can only agree with Emil Salim's findings.

There is, however, another alarming development: the street hawkers of the Kuta/Legian area. I noticed they are still there and as numerous and aggressive as always, only now they bear official permits to be nuisances to everyone walking the streets. Bali Governor Ida Bagus promised that by licensing hawkers the problem would be solved. Their licensing may have generated some more money for the island administration, but it certainly didn't solve the problem of how much of a nuisance they are.

Walking the streets of Kuta/Legian, which, by the way, is also being destroyed by the increasing number of shopping centers etc., is like running the gauntlet and by no means an experience that contributes to a relaxing holiday for tourists or Jakartans who want to enjoy a few peaceful days in the sun.

I think it is high time something effective is done about the problem or one day holidaymakers may choose to go somewhere else.

ROLAND WOEHRLE

Jakarta