Smokers and 'Post' cartoon

I am very much concerned about the cartoon published in The Jakarta Post, Feb. 19, which described the Jakarta governor as blaming smokers for causing pollution in the capital.

It is true that smoking risks the health of millions of people from all walks of life in the city, including slum dwellers, who are generally active smokers while their homes are poorly ventilated.

Employees and students traveling by bus also have to spend hours inhaling the fumes of other smokers. This is made worse during the rainy season, when nearly all windows in the bus have to be closed.

The cartoonist should have read letters and articles on the same page about the same public complaints, while this newspaper should have avoided criticizing what the public has shown its deep concern about.

SUSILOWATI R. Jakarta