Collection of door-to-door donations illegal: Official
Collection of door-to-door donations illegal: Official
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration does not permit any social organization to collect donations door-to-door, an official said yesterday.
The head of the city social agency, Emon Setia Sumantri, said that social organizations are allowed to collect donations only through activities, like bazaars or other social gatherings.
Asking offices or householders for donations is an illegal activity, Emon said.
He said permits from the governor for the collection of funds state clearly the purpose of the donations and how the funds to be collected -- never including door-knocking.
Many offices and individuals have complained about people, claiming to be from various organizations, asking for donations. Such fund-raisers frequently impose on office managers and private citizens to buy books, photographs of VIPs, calendars and other products.
The most recent complaints have been lodged with the police by 170 Japanese businessmen. The businessmen said they hoped that the police would take the problem seriously.
"Don't accept anybody asking for donations," Emon said yesterday, adding that his office welcomes any reports on such problems.
He promised to help deal with the problem by asking city public order officers to arrest donation collectors.
He added that there are currently a total of 852 registered social organizations in Jakarta.
Toha Reno, an official of the city public order office, said that his office faces difficulties in handling the illegal fund- raising activities.
He acknowledged that the matter becomes particularly sensitive if the people claiming to be collecting money for certain organizations say the money is for religious activities.
In many areas in Jakarta residents have also complained about people asking for donations for the building of mosques or orphanages in remote villages near Bogor or other towns in West Java.
"I think people should turn them away," Toha said, adding that in the mean time the city administration intends to continue combating such activities.(yns)