JAKARTA, 11 September 2007 - People who donate money to beggars, street musicians or food vendors in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, will face jail time or hefty fines under new legislation passed Monday, according to an official. The city council says they aim to clean up Jakarta. Residents who buy food or goods from hawkers operating outside the designated locations, give money to beggars, newspaper sellers or solicit for sex on the street could spend 60 days in jail or be fined up to 1,800 euro tells Arie Budhiman, a spokesman for the city.

"We want to clear Jakarta of beggars and street hawkers," he said, agreeing that it will not be easy to enforce the measure in the chaotic city of 13 million people. Most people buy at least one meal a day from vendors on the street. Young children knock car windows selling products and beggars are on sidewalks and overpasses with turned out hands. "Everyone will have to participate," Budhiman said. "It will require changing habits and a lot of discipline."

Many people in Indonesia, an archipelagic nation with 235 million people, are very poor and have to live on less than 2 U.S. dollars a day. Begging is common in many big cities. At least three other regions in Indonesia have already passed similar ordinances preventing people from giving money to beggars.

  21 November 2008 · Indonesia to plant 100 million trees this year
  20 November 2008 · Indonesia corruption watchdog to work with FBI
  19 November 2008 · Tiny primate rediscovered on Sulawesi
  18 November 2008 · Quicker opening of Jakarta airport toll road
  17 November 2008 · More executions likely to follow in Indonesia
  17 November 2008 · Powerful earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi
  16 November 2008 · Bali water supply endangered by shrinking Lake Batur
  16 November 2008 · Bali police chief 'needs to' enforce new anti-pornography law
  15 November 2008 · Landslide kills ten in West Java province
  14 November 2008 · Rihanna cancels concert in Indonesia amid safety concerns