Toy guns tops with Aceh kids

Toy guns tops with Aceh kids

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Whether the climate of violence has anything
to do with it is anybody's guess, but toy guns are top-selling
items among children here.

Toy vendors claim that they have sold twice as many toy guns
in the run-up to last week's Idul Fitri compared to the same
period last year.

A toy vendor in Banda Aceh, Baihaqi, told Antara that on Idul
Fitri day alone he earned between Rp 1 million and Rp 1.5 million
from the sale of imitation guns.

"The FN revolver and AK-47 rifle models are the best-selling
items," he said, adding that the FN model costs about Rp 10,000
to Rp 15,000 each and the AK-47 costs Rp 20,000 to Rp 50,000.

Jailani, a resident of Banda Aceh, reckons this phenomenon is
closely related to the recent condition of the province.

"The unstable condition of Aceh has not only affected economic
activity, but also the children's psychological development. No
wonder toy guns are the best-selling toys in this area," he
said.(01)