Govt urged to do more on tobacco control

Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/31/2008 12:08 PM | Headlines

The government is being urged to ratify the 2005 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to protect children and youths from cigarette-induced health risks.

Commemorating World No Tobacco Day, which falls today, the National Commission for Child Protection demanded on Friday a total ban on cigarette ads and tobacco sponsorships, as required by the World Health Organization convention.

The commission said it was declaring war on tobacco and tobacco ads, promotions and sponsorships. It accused tobacco companies of targeting young customers through the use of teenage slogans and figures in their ads and sponsorship of youth-oriented events.

"We see the tobacco industry aiming for teenagers to replace their aging and dying customers," the commission's secretary-general, Aris Merdeka Sirait, said.

He said the government was placing revenue over the lives of children by failing to enforce the legislation on tobacco control.

State revenue from the tobacco industry was Rp 52 trillion (US$5.6 billion) in 2006, making the industry the largest taxpayer.

Indonesia is the only country in the Asia-Pacific region that has yet to ratify the WHO convention.

The convention calls for signatories to fight smoking with higher taxation, a total advertising ban and more education about the health hazards of tobacco. The world agency has found only 5 percent of the global population is currently protected by comprehensive national smoke-free legislation.

Child commission chairman Seto Mulyadi said his group had set up a team to carry out litigation efforts against cigarette ads.

Muhammad Joni, the team's coordinator, said a total ban on tobacco ads was necessary because the partial ban of today allowed the industry to find loopholes to lure children.

No Tobacco Day was also observed at the State Palace in Jakarta, though neither President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or Vice President Jusuf Kalla attended the ceremony.

First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Vice President Kalla's wife, Mufidah, State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Hatta Swasono and wives of Cabinet ministers attended the event, Antara news agency reported.

The chairman of the Tobacco Control Commission, Farid Anfasa Moeloek, criticized the President and Vice President's absence, saying it was symbolic of a government that lacked the commitment to control tobacco sales.

Farid, a former health minister, said appealing to the public and educating children and youth about the dangers of tobacco were not enough. He urged the government to ratify the tobacco control convention and immediately pass a bill on tobacco control that was submitted to the House of Representatives three years ago.

Farid said low tobacco taxes, the "cool and masculine" image portrayed in cigarette ads and easy access to cigarettes tempted children to smoke.

State minister Meutia agreed tough regulations were needed to protect children and young people from tobacco. Quoting figures from the child commission, Meutia said 46.3 percent of teenagers started smoking after being exposed to cigarette ads or sponsorships. Forty-three percent of Indonesian children are passive smokers.

Meutia's office has worked with the National Commission for Tobacco Control, the National Education Ministry and the WHO's Indonesia representative in publishing a guideline for tobacco-free schools.

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