Proposed ban on ads resisted

SEMARANG, Central Java: The proposal to scrap cigarette advertisements on TV is meeting strong resistance from the Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers.

Achmad Djuffan, chief of the association, said Saturday that if it is enforced, the total ban would seriously affect its members.

"Although smoking is dangerous to one's health, to their addicts cigarettes are a source of inspiration," Achmad said..

He was commenting on proposals for a total ban on cigarette and liquor ads on television.

Achmad argued that in Islam, the religion of most Indonesians, cigarettes and liquor have a different status. Liquor, he said, is totally forbidden. While cigarettes are categorized as makhruh, meaning that a Moslem is not prohibited from smoking, but that if one refuses tobacco, he or she will receive a divine reward. (wah)