RI condemns smoking cautiously

RI condemns smoking cautiously

JAKARTA (JP): The economics of the cigarette ruled in
Indonesia yesterday as world "no-smoking" day was observed here
mainly by non-smokers rather than the smokers themselves.

Minister of Health Sujudi told reporters 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.

"I can't say when such a regulation would be issued. We have a
long way to go yet. We have to move cautiously," Sujudi said
after a ceremony to mark the no-smoking day at his office.

"Cigarette producers are making large contributions to our
economy. We can't simply shut down their plants. We have to think
about the workers and the tobacco farmers," he conceded.

The government's actions have been restricted to public
appeals and a limited campaign to inform the public about the
dangers of smoking.

The Ministry of Health is one of the few government agencies
that has barred smoking in all its offices. Some public places
like restaurants and hotels have introduced no-smoking areas but
there is no such segregation in most public transport facilities.

A ban on smoking ads on television is about the only positive
regulation against smoking. But cigarette producers have managed
to run TV commercials advertising their corporate brand rather
than their specific products.

The Indonesian cigarette industry, led by giant kretek (clove
cigarette) producers Djarum, Sampoerna and Bentoel, employs 3.4
million workers. It is estimated that up to 13.6 million people
are dependent, directly or indirectly, on the cigarette industry
for their livelihood. The industry also contributes Rp 2.5
trillion (over $1 billion) each year in excise taxes to the
government.

Director General for Drug and Food Control Wisnu Katim told
The Jakarta Post yesterday that the ministry is planning to push
to extend the ban on smoking to all government premises.

World Health Organization (WHO) representative Robert J. Kim-
Farley agreed that in the case of Indonesia, any anti-smoking
drive must proceed with caution. "We have to do it slowly here.
There are a lot of market forces, there are a lot of revenues
from tobacco companies," he told the Post.

But Farley warned that Indonesia should look beyond the
economics of the cigarette industry. "Yes, it's true that there's
a lot of money brought in from tobacco taxes, but how much money
is lost in people's health, in the cost of treating people with
lung diseases or heart attacks because of smoking?"

He said the government could raise the duty an tobacco to
discourage smoking, particularly among the young people. This
practice has already proven successful in other countries, he
added.

During the ceremony, Farley presented a WHO award to former
health minister Adhyatma and private carrier PT Sempati Airlines,
for their contribution to the anti-smoking movement in Indonesia.

Adhyatma ordered the placing of the health warning Merokok
Bisa Merugikan Kesehatan (Smoke Can be Damaging to Your Health)
on cigarette packets. It was also he who made all Ministry of
Health premises smoke-free areas.

Sempati was given the award for creating a smoke-free
environment in its working area. (31)

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