Beggars become source of ire

Beggars become source of ire

PADANG, West Sumatra: Residents in the West Sumatra capital
are complaining of beggars and homeless exhibiting criminal
tendencies. Residents, particularly women, said they were forced
to give money.

The social welfare office here recently acknowledged the
increase in beggars since the crisis, apart from the homeless and
informal traffic directors similar to those in Jakarta.

The secretary of the Minangkabau traditional customs
institution, Kamardi Rais D.P. Simulie, said residents should
turn to traditional values, in which locals took care of their
own so that the existence of the destitute among them was not
allowed.

The poor, Kamardi said, would have many relations. "They have
many kin within their customary communities; they have uncles and
nephews, or within their specific ethnic groups..." he said.
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