Anti-tobacco campaign in schools in major cities

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education launched on Thursday an anti-tobacco campaign in five of the country's major cities in a bid to reduce the number of smokers below 18 years of age.

What is most notable about the campaign is that it is being sponsored by several cigarette companies.

"With this event we also declare that schools are non-smoking areas," Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin said during the opening ceremony on Thursday.

"Teachers, many of whom are also smokers, must set proper examples of healthy living habits for their students by not lighting up at school or in classes," Yahya said.

The Rp 450 million campaign called "Catch A Star" is sponsored by the Indonesian White Cigarette Producer Association (Gaprindo), which is comprised of the country's 12 major cigarettes producers.

White cigarettes in Indonesia is the usual reference to non clove cigarettes.

The campaign, aimed at raising awareness among junior and senior high school students of the dangers of smoking, will last for six months from October until March 2001 in the cities of Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Medan.

"Lets not be prejudiced about the fact that this event is sponsored by cigarettes producers. We believe that their participation is sincere in building a young generation who are free from tobbaco.

"Anyway, I think the tobacco industry will never die so we have to change the approach by protecting the young," Yahya said.

The campaign will feature two young Indonesian athletes -- badminton star Taufik Hidayat and basketball player Rommy Chandra.

Gaprindo chairman Muhaimin Moeftie said the association is being candid about the fact that the young generation should be free from smoking.

"Basically, we believe that the cigarette industry will not lose its market (because of the campaign). We also believe that smoking is a matter of choice," Muhaimin said.

"So when they grow up, in this case after they reach the age of 18, these students can decide whether they want to start smoking or not," he said.

Minister Yahya, however, quickly replied: "Lets hope that by the time they reach 18, the students are feeling so good with their health that they never want to touch cigarettes".

The campaign will involve a direct approach to schools as well as the launch of an advertising program with slogan "Be Cool, Don't Smoke".

The ministry's Director of Physical Health Soeharto also pointed out that the temptation to smoke usually starts in junior and senior highschool.

"They think smoking is cool and trendy. We want to alter that image through this campaign that you can be cool and stylish without cigarettes," Soeharto said, adding that smoking often leads to the use of other addictive substances. (edt)