Facing ticket scalpers

Facing ticket scalpers

From Warta Kota

The customary annual journey to one's home town, popularly
known as "mudik", is being undertaken by a huge number of people
this year, particularly in the most densely populated island of
Java. Local governments have anticipated problems that may arise
in terms of transportation and crimes.

This year's mudik is special in that it takes place in the
week of Christmas and Idul Fitri closely followed by New Year
2001. It is natural, therefore, to see crowds of people lining up
for tickets at bus terminals, railway stations, harbors and
airports. As expected, there has been an increased number of
people selling tickets at those places, of course, at higher
prices.

In Jakarta, efforts have been made by parties concerned to
minimize the number of scalpers or at least to limit their
activities. To the best of my knowledge, the efforts made by the
police have been nearly without success. The reason could be, as
I was told, because certain local policemen allegedly have been
involved in the illegal ticket sales.

I am writing this to urge the police to do something better to
truly eliminate those illegal ticket sales, which is harmful to
the public.

ALI COKROWERDOYO

Jakarta