City faces formidable challenges in implementing smoking ban<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A man calmly lit his cigarette without so much as a by-your-
\nleave. It does not matter that he was on a public Kopaja bus, it
\ndoes not matter that he was setting a bad example for his son
\nsitting next to him, and he probably cares little for the
\ndistasteful looks of others bothered by his cigarette smoke.<\/p>\n
Welcome to Indonesia, a country where about 70 percent of
\nadults are smokers and cigarette makers make the biggest
\ncontribution to excise tax annually -- expected to reach Rp 31.4
\ntrillion (about US$3.14 billion) this year.<\/p>\n
With 211 billion cigarettes sold last year and cigarette
\nbrands Sampoerna and Djarum being some of the biggest sponsors of
\nsports and entertainment events in the country, it is bit amazing
\nthat the government dare to agitate the reign of these cash cow
\ncompanies in the interest of public health.<\/p>\n
But thankfully for non-smokers, it did. And among some of the
\nearnest -- albeit cautious -- efforts to curb the number of
\nsmokers, is Jakarta administration's implementation of Bylaw No.
\n2\/2005 on air pollution control in February.<\/p>\n
Among other items in the ruling, the bylaw bans smoking in
\nenclosed public places, and requires property management
\ncompanies to provide special smoking areas.<\/p>\n
\"We are serious about implementing the ban on smoking in
\npublic places. Building managers must immediately establish
\nsmoke-free zones,\" Governor Sutiyoso said during a public
\nawareness campaign in October. The bylaw was endorsed in
\nFebruary.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso has also issued Gubernatorial Regulation No. 75,
\nspecifying offices, bus terminals, train stations, shopping
\nmalls, airports, hotels and restaurants, as well as schools and
\nplaces of worship as smoke-free zones.<\/p>\n
The list also includes public transportation vehicles such as
\nbuses, trains, taxis, buses and public minivans as well as
\nkancil.<\/p>\n
Violators can be punished by up to six months in jail and\/or a
\nfine of Rp 50 million (about US$5,000).<\/p>\n
Public awareness campaigns have been going on all through the
\nyear, including news stories, posters and stickers, and beginning
\nin December, through advertisements on television, radio and
\nprint media.<\/p>\n
Some of the first to say they were ready to implement the new
\nban were the hotels, restaurants and malls in the capital.<\/p>\n
Hotels and restaurants have traditionally provided smoking and
\nnon-smoking floors or areas, and malls such as Plaza Semanggi and
\nPlaza Senayan are designed to be smoke-free areas.<\/p>\n
\"We already distinguish between smoking areas and non-smoking
\nareas. For example, we have a certain number of non-smoking
\nfloors or rooms. So we can abide by the new regulation with a
\nslight adjustment,\" Putu Ayu Aristya Dewi, marketing manager for
\nthe Accor Group, which owns several four and five-star hotels in
\nthe capital, told The Jakarta Post earlier.<\/p>\n
However, a peek in some of the office buildings on Jakarta's
\nmain thoroughfares reveals that many have yet to provide smoking
\nareas for tenants.<\/p>\n
\"Most people put out their cigarettes before entering the
\nbuilding, but office boys and drivers often smoke near the
\nservice elevators,\" an employee at the Deutsche Bank Building on
\nJl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta said.<\/p>\n
The property management company, PT Deutsche Real Estate
\nIndonesia, said that it would begin the construction of a special
\nsmoking room in December equipped with exhaust fans and ashtrays
\nas stipulated in the regulation.<\/p>\n
\"But until then we have asked the building security guards to
\nreprimand people who light up in the emergency staircases,\" the
\ncompany's Daniel Pardede said.<\/p>\n
The administration said it would take a hard line on property
\nmanagement companies that failed to provide smoking areas by Dec.
\n31.<\/p>\n
The office buildings may become smoke free soon enough, but
\nthe most difficult problem for those who agree with the ban could
\nbe the people lighting up on public transportation vehicles.<\/p>\n
Drivers of buses and minivans are notorious not only for their
\ndriving habits, but also for their chain smoking.<\/p>\n
\"I wouldn't be able to drive without smoking, it's the only
\nway I keep awake,\" Ucok, a bus driver plying the Bintaro-Blok M
\nroute, said, while adding that he did not know how he was going
\nto do without cigarettes when the law comes into force.<\/p>\n
The administration is encouraging drivers to warn smoking
\npassengers to put out their cigarettes, while passengers can
\nreport smoking drivers to the City Transportation Agency, which
\nhas the authority to sanction drivers.<\/p>\n
The problem, of course, is law enforcement on passengers and
\ndrivers.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid that people will be able to get away from
\npunishment by paying hush money to officers,\" environmental
\nexpert Ahmad Safrudin said.<\/p>\n
He said that if the administration seriously wants to enforce
\nthe smoking ban in enclosed public places, including public
\ntransportation, it must seriously advocate social awareness and
\nencourage people to be aware of their right to a smoke-free
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
When the bull-headed smoker does not flinch at the angry
\nstares and blatant coughs that his second-hand smoke provokes,
\nthe only way may be to directly reprimand the smoker to put out
\nhis cigarette.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately not everybody cares enough nor has enough
\ncourage to reprimand others for smoking, most prefer to avoid
\ntrouble,\" Ahmad said.<\/p>",
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