No more funds for scout program

JAKARTA (JP): Newly installed Directorate General of Customs and Excise Martiono Hadianto said yesterday that his office would no longer use receipts from cigarette excise to help the country's scout movement.

The use of cigarette excise to fund scout activities as required by former president Soeharto had been effectively stopped since his resignation in May.

The director general of customs and excise, based on the former presidential decree issued in 1988, was required to give the scout movement Rp 1 from every cigarette excise band bought by cigarette producers.

He said his office raised a total Rp 83.7 billion (US$5.77 million) between 1991 and May 1998.

He did not say how much had been collected between 1988 and 1990.

The funds were given to the scout movement through the office of the State Secretary. (aly)