Thinning Out the Smoke

FOR some housewives in East Nusa Tenggara, gasoline stoves can quickly turn into a fire monster that burns down their houses. "We are afraid it'll explode," said Maria Nogo Sogen in mid-August. The woman who usually goes by Mama Mia looked dead-serious. Quoting television news, she told stories of many fires due to explosions of the gas tube.

Many fires resulting from the melon bombswhat locals call the three-kilogram bright green gas tubestook place often between 2008 and 2010, when the government converted from kerosene use to gasoline. Although East Nusa Tenggara saw no occurence of such fires, the traumatic effect is deep. "We are poor. We save money little by little to build a house and after that it gets burned. Wouldn't that be a bitter experience?" Mia asked.