Firecrackers prohibited

JAKARTA (JP): The City Public Order Office will conduct raids on the growing army of illegal firecracker traders, a senior official said recently.

Head of the office's entertainment division, Toha Reno, said the number of sellers had mushroomed since the start of Ramadhan. He also said the selling and lighting firecrackers is prohibited under Provincial Decree No.5/1971.

Apprehension of firecracker sellers would be conducted by market security officers and city public order officers, he said.

"Traders who violate the regulation will be closed down and their firecrackers confiscated," Toha said.

Last December the office confiscated 6,100 firecrackers. "The operation is necessary because firecrackers can endanger people's lives," Toha said. (ste)