Legalize border marts, govt urged

Legalize border marts, govt urged

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Provincial councillors are
demanding that the central government legalize the crime-prone
illegal markets that are proliferating along the Indonesian -
East Timorese border in Kupang.

Councillor Karel Y. Mbuik, chairman of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, Mell Adoe
chairman of Golkar Party faction, Yahidin Umar, chairman of the
United Development Party (PPP) faction told The Jakarta Post in
separate interviews on Friday that 'illegal' markets were in
reality helpful for boosting the local economy.

"If we legalize the markets it will make it a lot easier for
local authorities to supervise and control them," Karel Y. Mbuik
said.

The local administration could then impose legal levies on the
traders after their operations are legalized, he said.

Sharing his opinion, Mell Adoe expressed his surprise that the
central government had yet to take prompt action against the
illegal markets.

"The border is vulnerable to crime. Therefore, these illegal
markets need to be legally managed, or we will have more serious
problems in the future," Adoe said, without specifying what type
of crime actually took place at the markets.

The money circulated in the markets amounts to a large amount
each day. The East Timorese traders use Australian dollars, while
the Indonesian traders use the rupiah.

The Australian dollar is the legal currency in the former
Indonesian province of East Timor. (30/sur)