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)