Addicted nation

Thank you for the excellent quality of newspaper which has been delivered to my door these past seven years I've lived here in Jakarta. Thank you for taking the risk to make the tough decision sometimes to keep us honestly informed. Maybe your June 1 front page article on RI condemns smoking cautiously was just such a moment of truth. I was very surprised to read of the unabashed sell-out of Indonesians' health, announced by, of all people, the supposed minister of health. Your report that Sujudi informed you on world "no smoking" day that: "the government has no intention of introducing any regulations, let alone legislation, restricting smokers because of the importance of the local cigarette industry in the economy".

In so doing, doesn't Minister Sujudi also announce indirectly before God, the WHO, and everybody, the importance placed by this administration upon the health and lives of the country's people?

What does it profit the government if it gains US$1 billion in yearly excise taxes, but loses the health and lives of thousands of its citizens? What's a life worth? What value do Indonesians place upon their own health? Are they willing to trade it for the temporary pleasure of cigarette smoking? Health is an even more important factor in our pursuit of happiness. Some essentials of happiness are: family, job, food, religion, friends, and recreation. But the extent to which all of these can be enjoyed is conditioned by our health. Are we willing to sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate?

Therefore, if the health and true happiness of the people (and the two are in a sense one) is the top priority of this New Order government, shouldn't it be wise enough and brave enough to make the tough decisions required, not only for sustained economic growth, but also the improvement in health conditions? Mortality rates can also be an indication of success. Will increased heart disease and lung cancer be a legacy of this administration, in addition to its many successes? Many men and women and children may not seriously consider their need to quit smoking until their leaders show unequivocally that cigarettes are dangerous and deadly.

Pak Sujudi need not worry that cigarette factories will be closed anytime soon if he should encourage the populace to observe one little "no smoking day" with rest of the world. He says: "we have to move cautiously." Oh, do we now? Does that mean they "have" to, or they "choose" to? Why? Is that what is best for the people, or somebody's pocket? Should the minister of health enlist the help of all government officials from the President on down, would it really be possible to change the habits of an addicted nation within a decade or two? I know something of how hard it is to quit or "kick the habit", because I saw what my father went through to "get the monkey off his back", as he used to say. But I'm so glad he found the strength to do it, because if not, he might not still be with us and enjoying life. I'd sure rather have my father with me, and his good example of quitting, than that the $1 billion Pak Sujudi is so worried about losing.

DAN ADAMS

Jakarta