Hard work: Workers check the quality of condoms at the factory of PT Mitra Rajawali Banjaran in Bandung, West Java
span class="caption">Hard work: Workers check the quality of condoms at the factory of PT Mitra Rajawali Banjaran in Bandung, West Java. (JP/Elly Burhaini Faizal)
The local administration of Luwu regency in South Sulawesi has banned the sale of condoms over concerns about teenagers having casual sex.
Luwu regent Andi Mudzakkar said on Tuesday that the administration decided to ban retail stores from selling condoms to prevent local teenagers from buying them freely.
The Luwu administration will apply the policy to stores in Belopa, the capital city of Luwu, like Alfamidi and Indomaret. The administration will also conduct spot inspections to monitor compliance.
"If we find there are still stores selling condoms, we will confiscate the condoms and we may also revoke the store's permit," he said as quoted by tempo.co.
Opposing the regulation was Sul Arrahman, a member of Luwu's regional council (DPRD), who said that it was counterproductive for the central government's mission with its family planning program.
"The regulation is ridiculous and premature. There is no guarantee that banning the sale of condoms will lessen promiscuity. The more we forbid them, the wilder teenagers will get," he said.
There are around 10 retail stores such as Indomaret and Alfamidi in Luwu. Staff at an Indomaret store refused to comment on the policy.
Several areas in Indonesia, such has Surabaya and Bengkulu, have limited the sale of condoms to attempt to prevent casual sex among teenagers. (rin)
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