Govt calls for no-smoking public places<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health appealed to government
\nagencies yesterday to declare more public places no-smoking
\nareas.<\/p>\n
The ministry's director general of drugs and food, Wisnu
\nKatim, said he would raise the issue with the Ministry of
\nTourism, Post and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Education
\nand Culture, the Youth and Sports Office and the Ministry of
\nTransportation.<\/p>\n
\"I will appeal to those ministries to ban smoking in public
\nplaces so that nonsmokers can breath clean air,\" he said after
\nbriefing reporters on World No Tobacco Day this Saturday.<\/p>\n
Smoking is banned in very few public places. The Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture has banned it in state and private schools.<\/p>\n
Most restaurants now have designated no-smoking areas but do
\nnot ban smoking altogether. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has
\nbanned smoking on some of its flights.<\/p>\n
Wisnu stressed that nonsmokers had a basic right to breath
\nclean air in public places.<\/p>\n
He said the Ministry of Health was drafting regulations to
\ncurtail smoking, particularly among young people, and increase
\nprotection for nonsmokers.<\/p>\n
The regulations being considered included banning sales of
\ncigarettes to minors and banning smoking in the work place and
\nother places, he said.<\/p>\n
Anti-smoking campaigners face an uphill struggle given the
\ncountry's strong tobacco lobby. The industry is among the largest
\nemployers and biggest taxpayers.<\/p>\n
To mark World No Tobacco Day, the government in collaboration
\nwith the World Health Organization would present certificates of
\nappreciation to Garuda Indonesia and the Ministry of Education
\nand Culture for their active participation in restricting or
\nbanning smoking, Wisnu said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health has appealed to smokers to give up the
\nhabit on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The appeal has consistently been ignored in past years.<\/p>\n
PT Pos Indonesia, the state postal company, plans to issue new
\nstamps to mark World No Tobacco Day. (11)<\/p>",
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