Failure to sign tobacco pact could backfire on RI<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
This smoker-friendly country could be made an example of if the
\ngovernment refuses to ratify the global tobacco control pact, the
\nWorld Health Organization (WHO) and local activists are warning.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia risks losing international prestige and is
\nvirtually going it alone against the global trend of taking the
\npandemic of tobacco-related diseases seriously,\" WHO Indonesia
\nenvironmental health program advisor Jan A. Speets said.<\/p>\n
He said the Indonesian government would be considered not
\nwilling to take the responsibility to protect its citizens
\nagainst the devastating impact of high tobacco consumption.
\n\"Especially the poorest of the population,\" Speets said.<\/p>\n
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) endorsed by
\n168 member states of the WHO aims to reduce the economic and
\nhealth impacts of tobacco consumption by recommending tax
\nincreases on tobacco products, cracking down on smuggling, and
\nreducing exposure to second-hand smoke.<\/p>\n
Currently the world's fifth-largest tobacco consumer,
\nIndonesia, however, was the only country in the Asia-Pacific
\nregion that did not sign the pact. The latest figures available
\nshow that more than 400,000 Indonesians are known to have died in
\n2001 due to smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer,
\nchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and strokes although
\nthe actual number of cases is likely to be far higher.<\/p>\n
\"By not taking part in the agreement, Indonesia will not be
\nallowed to participate in the Conference of Parties in the FCTC
\nwhere important decisions will be made on international and
\ninter-regional measures such as prevention of smuggling and
\nharmonization of taxes and prices,\" Jan said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, local anti-tobacco activists made similar calls for
\nthe government to ensure its accession to the FCTC and to avoid
\nbeing denied global health aid.<\/p>\n
\"We still need the global funding to fight HIV and
\ntuberculosis,\" National Committee on Smoking Control head Farid
\nAnfasa Moeloek said.<\/p>\n
\"If we do not pay attention to tobacco-related diseases, the
\nfunding may be cut, risking the health of the nation,\" the former
\nhealth minister said.<\/p>\n
The committee reported earlier that the ministries of
\nindustry, finance, trade and agriculture and the Ministry of
\nManpower and Transmigration have refused to ratify the FCTC,
\narguing that it would hamper the tobacco industry and lead to
\nmassive unemployment.<\/p>\n
However, activists reject his claim and say that the cost of
\nsmoking on the nation's health and the economy were more than the
\nrevenue generated from the industry.<\/p>\n
The government's refusal to ratify the global agreement was
\nalso a violation of the country's 1945 Constitution, the
\nIndonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) said.<\/p>\n
\"Every citizen has the right to have healthy environment as
\nstated in Article 28 of the Constitution,\" said Tulus Abadi,
\nYLKI's coordinator for tobacco control advocacy.<\/p>\n
He complained that the government decree issued recently to
\ncurb smoking in public places, including religious, health and
\neducational centers, had not been properly implemented. (003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/failure-to-sign-tobacco-pact-could-backfire-on-ri-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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