Indonesian NGOs wages war against cigarettes

Indonesian NGOs wages war against cigarettes

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): Despite years of health warnings, smoking is
still socially acceptable in Indonesia.

Activists have launched antismoking campaigns, yet many people
ignore the warnings.

Emma Surachman, a member of the National Forum for Antismoking
Campaigns, said the fight against smoking has been very tough in
the last few years. But "antismoking campaigners are toothless
when facing the influential cigarette industry which has strong
access and lots of money for promotional campaigns."

Emma said it was usually non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
which were behind antismoking campaigns and these organizations
did not have then power to impose the measures needed to prevent
the cigarette industry from hiding the hazardous effects of
smoking from the public.

The forum, comprising eight organizations including the
Indonesian Cancer Society, the Asthma Foundation, the Heart
Society and Women against Tobacco, actively holds antismoking
seminars, workshops and other activities at schools, private
companies and government offices.

The banning of smoking in some public areas is one important
result of the campaigns, she said.

"There is a lot more to be done and we hope the government
fully supports our activities for the sake of people's health,"
Emma said.

The forum has recommended that steps be taken to safeguard the
right of nonsmokers to live in an environment free of
contamination from tobacco smoke.

It has also suggested that smoking should be banned in all
public places, measures should be taken to avoid the portrayal of
cigarettes as being trendy in advertisements targeted at
youngsters.

"Media advertising is a potential way for cigarette companies
to keep their products fresh in the minds of consumers," Emma
said.

Electronic and printed media also play significant roles in
promoting cigarettes.

Tulus Abadi, a consumer activist, lashed out at TV commercials
that portray smokers as successful and attractive.

"Such a portrayal may encourage people, especially teenagers,
to smoke," he said.

Regardless of these harmful influences, local television and
radio stations continue to air cigarette commercials. They also
ignore a l990s Ministry of Information decree which bans all
forms of cigarette commercials on TV and radio. Many newspapers,
tabloids and magazines also reap profits from running cigarette
ads.

But some media have banned cigarette advertising. One such
company is the country's largest newspaper, Kompas, which along
with film actor Roy Marten received this year's No Tobacco Award
from WHO for their commitment to antismoking campaigning.

Julius Pour, Kompas' public relations executive, said the
daily realized that accepting cigarette ads would be very
profitable.

"But it is not a matter of money. By banning cigarette
advertising, we want to set an example that we are an institution
that promotes healthy living among our readers and society in
general," he said.

Philanthropic

In addition to media advertising, cigarette companies have
successfully shaped an image of being "philanthropic"
institutions which pour money into a vast array of public
activities from sports to more sophisticated cultural events.

Retno Widiastuti, an executive of the Indonesian Consumers
Foundation, said that such sponsorships must be interpreted as a
company's attempt to gain social acceptance.

"There are many sports events including tennis and badminton
championships backed by cigarette companies," she said. In
sports, athletes should maintain their condition by avoiding
harmful habits like smoking. "But in reality, sports events still
rely heavily on the cigarette industry for financial backing. It
is so ironic," added Retno.

Besides sports events, the cigarette industry also finances
many entertainment and cultural programs.

A Mild Jakarta Jazz Festival, for instance, enjoys secure
financial support from one of Indonesia's biggest cigarette
companies, which gains promotional benefit from the title of the
festival. In other entertainment events, free cigarettes are
given to the visitors.

The cigarette industry also wants to play a greater role in
nurturing art activities. For example, an American tobacco giant
has actively sponsored local fine art contests and exhibitions
over the last few years.

The cigarette industry is a forceful power which welds
influence over society and over the government as well.

International events are also dominated by tobacco
sponsorship. Despite a proposed ban on tobacco sponsorships,
health ministries of the European Union reportedly allows one of
the world's biggest tobacco companies to continue sponsoring
Formula One racing out of fear that the organizer will relocate
this prestigious sports event to a more smoke-friendly country in
Asia or Africa.

"It is very difficult to reduce reliance on cigarette
sponsorship unless event organizers find alternative financial
backers, which are now almost impossible because of the economic
crisis," said Retno.