A joint sponsorship?

I refer to the article in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 12, 2001 titled WHO names tennis star Angie as one of its health champions.

I cannot understand the rationale and criteria behind the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to appoint Angelique Widjaja to a six-month contract as one of the youth ambassadors promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people. If I may quote correctly, one of her duties is to encourage young people not to start smoking.

Isn't WHO aware that more than half of Angelique Widjaja's US$170,000 prize was contributed by Wismilak (a cigarette brand)? To the best of my understanding, many international and local community development institutions are reluctant to be sponsored by a cigarette company.

I would like to appeal to WHO to be more precise and conduct a "fit and proper test" before selecting their ambassador to campaign healthier life objectives. I certainly believe that Indonesia still has many other talented young individuals who are really in line with your WHO global criteria.

For Wismilak, even though the anti-smoking campaign was intensified, the company still generates a high volume of sales.

H. FATURACHMAN

Bogor, West Java