Traders benefit from erotic publications

Traders benefit from erotic publications

JAKARTA (JP): Amid questioning of popular model Sophia Latjuba
for her controversial seminude pose in a magazine, newspaper
agents and street vendors are the winners as new risque and X-
rated publications hit the streets.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Sunday, many newspaper vendors
said they were able to make a profit of between Rp 200 (three U.S
cents) and Rp 2,000 for each tabloid and magazine running sensual
pictures and stories.

Mamad, a newspaper vendor on Jl. Samanhudi, Central Jakarta
said: "(It's) not bad. I don't need any capital, since I take the
copies from a nearby agent and return them if they don't sell
out."

Mamad said he could send money regularly to his wife and five
children in Garut, West Java, as a result of selling hot
publications, which often sold out shortly after they were
issued.

"It's probably because the tabloids are also cheaper than the
magazines," he said.

Trisno, a newspaper vendor on Jl. Gunung Sahari, Central
Jakarta, echoed Mamad's views.

"In the past, maybe the buyers were afraid or ashamed to buy
the tabloids. But now many motorists buy them. Maybe it's because
of reformasi," the father of five said.

Many other newspaper sellers, such as Ucok who sells
newspapers and magazines in front of Gajah Mada Plaza in West
Jakarta, and Jupri at the Senen bus terminal, Central Jakarta,
shared the same delight with the surge in demand for such
publications.

But Trisno said he was still afraid of selling XXX-rated
publications.

"I'm afraid of being arrested by the police. But selling the
tabloids, I think that's okay," he said.

Despite Trisno's reluctance to sell the hard-core
publications, it is easy to buy XXX-rated magazines on the
streets from the newspaper boys, who often hide the illegal
material among the other publications.

Since the forced resignation of President Soeharto on May 21
last year, his successor President B.J. Habibie has relaxed media
rules, a move highly praised by the local and international press
communities.

As a result, some new tabloids and magazines focus their
business on sex and run erotic pictures to lure readers.

Some of the new hot tabloids include Power, Pop, Map, Skandal
and Protest. They are priced at between Rp 1,000 and Rp 2,000,
slightly lower than the regular publications.

The new tabloids and magazines have added to the number of
magazines and tabloids in existence before Soeharto's
resignation.

A copy of Popular magazine's special edition, which featured
model Sophia was sold for Rp 20,000. Some 200,000 copies of the
magazines were reportedly sold out.

Trisno said many people were keen to buy the magazine,
especially after Sophia was questioned on Friday as a witness in
a police investigation of the growing number of sex publications
here.

"Many want to buy (the special edition) for Rp 50,000 a copy.
But I could not provide it anymore."

The traders have said they would not object if the government
moves to ban such publications.

"We're small people. It's up to the government," Trisno said.
(jun)