Firecracker problem

Firecracker problem

From Warta Kota

Playing with firecrackers in the street has been customary in
Jakarta and certain other cities and towns particularly during
the Ramadhan fasting month ending with the annual celebration of
Idul Fitri throughout the Islamic world.

In Indonesia, newspapers have repeatedly reported the dangers
of playing with firecrackers in particular in the streets.
Injuries and fatalities from exploding fireworks involve not only
road users but also pedestrians including women and children
among the victims.

The government and the police along with NGOs have made
efforts to stop the prohibited dangerous firecracker "games"
including confiscating stocks of firecrackers and those sold in
the streets, however, they do not seem to have been successful.

I am of the opinion that there should be close cooperation
between the parties concerned like private manufacturers of
firecrackers, law enforcement officials, and the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism to overcome the problem. Perhaps the
following is what they should do:

The ministry should be proactive in organizing various big
events which include an aerial fireworks display for amusement
purposes. This way, I think, people will be happy and
manufacturers will not have to close because if they are closed,
certain people will be jobless and others will suffer losses. In
the meantime, local authorities should supervise the events and
anticipate any problems. This way the law continues to be
enforced without causing loss to the people and people --
especially pedestrians and other road users -- are protected.

WARTA KUSUMAH

Tangerang, West Java