Govt calls for no-smoking public places

Govt calls for no-smoking public places

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health appealed to government
agencies yesterday to declare more public places no-smoking
areas.

The ministry's director general of drugs and food, Wisnu
Katim, said he would raise the issue with the Ministry of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Education
and Culture, the Youth and Sports Office and the Ministry of
Transportation.

"I will appeal to those ministries to ban smoking in public
places so that nonsmokers can breath clean air," he said after
briefing reporters on World No Tobacco Day this Saturday.

Smoking is banned in very few public places. The Ministry of
Education and Culture has banned it in state and private schools.

Most restaurants now have designated no-smoking areas but do
not ban smoking altogether. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has
banned smoking on some of its flights.

Wisnu stressed that nonsmokers had a basic right to breath
clean air in public places.

He said the Ministry of Health was drafting regulations to
curtail smoking, particularly among young people, and increase
protection for nonsmokers.

The regulations being considered included banning sales of
cigarettes to minors and banning smoking in the work place and
other places, he said.

Anti-smoking campaigners face an uphill struggle given the
country's strong tobacco lobby. The industry is among the largest
employers and biggest taxpayers.

To mark World No Tobacco Day, the government in collaboration
with the World Health Organization would present certificates of
appreciation to Garuda Indonesia and the Ministry of Education
and Culture for their active participation in restricting or
banning smoking, Wisnu said.

The Ministry of Health has appealed to smokers to give up the
habit on Saturday.

The appeal has consistently been ignored in past years.

PT Pos Indonesia, the state postal company, plans to issue new
stamps to mark World No Tobacco Day. (11)