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Jakarta Post

Local leaders the saviors

But the autonomy bestowed on regional governments has enabled local leaders to make the right choice. 

Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, September 20, 2018

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Local leaders the saviors Local initiatives to combat smoking work and have won popular support where there is political will. (Shutterstock/File)

W

hile the government drags its feet and lacks unity in fighting health hazards caused by smoking, people can now rely on regional governments for protection. That is one of the messages of last week’s 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health in Bali.

In sharing their experience, a number of regional heads from Asia — including Kulonprogo Regent Hasto Wardoyo, Bogor Mayor Bima Arya, Klungkung Regent I Nyoman Suwirta from Indonesia, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of the Philippines and Xiaopeng Zeng of Beijing — showed that local initiatives to combat smoking work and have won popular support where there is political will.

The challenge of course would be far more complicated for tobacco and cigarette producing regions as their survival depends on these commodities. But the autonomy bestowed on regional governments has enabled local leaders to make the right choice. For Suwirta and other leaders, their mandate has been to introduce and enforce ordinances on no-smoking zones for their people.

The Bali regency of Klungkung and 10 other regions across Indonesia have been lauded by the Health Ministry for their tobacco control policies . Klungkung bans smoking in public places, including schools, playgrounds, public transportation, houses of worship, workplaces and tourist sites. No tobacco ads are permitted in those places either. Violations of the bylaw are punishable by three months in jail or fines of up to Rp 50 million (US$3,350). 

Such a ban could affect the revenues of tourist destinations like Klungkung, but Suwitra convinced all stakeholders, including religious leaders, to heed it. He is now campaigning against smoking during all religious rituals, which are many, and asking shop and stall owners to avoid displaying cigarette products so as not to tempt the youth to smoke.

When it comes to enforcing the tobacco control bylaw, Muntinlupa city is perhaps the most stringent. The Smoke Free Task Force, led by the city police chief, arrests any individual caught smoking in public places or outside assigned smoking areas.

Indonesia, as well as the world, needs tough leaders committed to the protection of their people and future generations from any threat, including toxic cigarette smoke. The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance has projected cigarette consumption in the region will to reach 548 billion cigarettes this year, primarily in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam as transnational tobacco giants relocate from developed countries.

For Indonesia, with Southeast Asia’s highest prevalence of adult smokers, the danger is clear and present. Diseases resulting from smoking and second-hand smoke will thwart its bid to achieve the sustainable development goals and our dream of the demographic bonus. 

Indonesia’s tug-of-war persists between the tobacco industry and health stakeholders, and our leaders remain undecided in between. This prevents Indonesia from ratifying the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to reduce the devastating health, social, economic and environmental harm caused by tobacco. Thankfully, regional heads lead the way.

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