Cell phone thefts

Referring to an article published in The Jakarta Post on July 28, 2000 entitled Business on the rise at Kebayoran Lama flea market, I was delighted to hear about the development and success of business for the former Taman Puring traders.

I welcome all prospective and new business development for the economy of this country. But, maybe we have overlooked the control and versatility of types of businesses.

For example, it was mentioned a trader bought a Super 8 camera from a high school kid who looked like a drug addict. He doesn't even know if the camera works. What responsibility is that of the vendor? Also to protect the community it would be better for him to make sure he has the original document and receipt of that camera. The other is, if the seller looked like a drug addict, one does not know whether he stole it. Laws should be regulated for all traders to protect themselves and the consumers.

To conclude, one kiosk which sells cellular phones also offers services to unlock personal identification numbers of cellular phones (these personal identification numbers are for security purposes but the feature makes it difficult for cell phone thieves to sell the stolen items if they cannot provide buyers with the numbers). "Surely this is a joke". How could anyone possibly be providing such a service if it is to be for the benefit of a thief. That is pure irony and the kiosk should be banned, or given the opportunity to supply such a service by the government where it can be regulated, and for the help of the community, in response to only legitimate requests. Anyone can see that this kiosk leaves the opportunity wide open for cell phone thieves to expand their illegal business. If this PIN protection is hard for people to break, we will hopefully be minimizing the large amount of thefts in this business.

The laws and regulations for using cellular phones in other countries certainly put a stop to the many problems concerned with them and their usage. Aren't we cutting a fine line allowing a kiosk to operate that supplies such a service? Unless of course he has all the original purchase documents. However, I am led to believe his business should be controlled by the government or by the State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Zarkasih Nur.

Two issues that one must note here are as follows: the small businessman is trying to make ends meet and the consumer is usually trying to do much the same, i.e. balancing finances. But there has to be some control within these trading sites so we can eliminate and avoid the "rats".

C. PARRY

Jakarta