"Why should we imports goods from the colonial country."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The faction of Islamic-based Development United Party (PPP) criticized the government on entry of Israeli food products into the Indonesian market.

Imports of Israeli products like fruits including dates and Shantang orange are not legal especially as the country has no diplomatic including trade relations with that country, Zainut Tauhid Sa`adi, a member of the faction, said.

"PPP strongly denounces officials involved in the illegal imports," Zainut, who is also a chairman of executive board of PPP, said here on Monday.

He said those involved in facilitating the imports are expected to be immediately aware of the mistake they had committed.

The people in this Muslim predominantly country will later know that they been lied to as they are not aware that they had consumed goods from Israel, he said.

He demanded explanation from the government , how the goods could enter the country .

Direct and indirect trade with Israel are illegal , he said, adding dates and shantang fruits could be imported from countries having diplomatic and trade ties with Indonesia.

"Why should we imports goods from the colonial country," he said.

Earlier, the Central Statistic Agency (BPS) said,two of nine main types of fruits imported by the country were believed to originate from Israel.

In June, dates imported from Israel totaled around 20.6 tons valued at US$191,300 . It was the first import from that country this year

Imports of shantang orange were recorded to total 0.666 ton in April valued at US$709 . It was also the first imports from that country.

Tunisia has been the largest supplier of dates for Indonesia. So far this year, date imports from that country reached 2,300 tons valued at Rp63 billion.

Imports in June tripped in value from that North African country compared from the previous month.

The second largest supplier was Egypt from which imports totaled 7,100 tons valued at Rp54 billion in the first seven months of the year.

Dates are a traditional foods for Muslims ahead and during Idul Fitri ***2***

(AS/a014)

(T.SYS/A/H-ASG/A/A014) 13-08-2012 18:29:39

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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