City, NGOs to raid office, malls, buses for smokers

Triwik Kurniasari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 11/12/2008 10:50 AM  |  City

The city administration and a number of anti-smoking NGOs plan to conduct raids across the city targeting smokers caught ignoring the bylaw on smoking in restricted areas.

The sweep will focus on the seven public areas in which smoking was banned under the bylaw: office buildings, medical centers, schools, places of worship, children's playgrounds, public transportation and shopping centers, said Nita Yudi, chairwoman of the Indonesian Network of Women Against Tobacco, on Tuesday.

"The 10-day action will be held from Nov. 17 to 27. This is part of the effort to protect people from the dangers of cigarettes," said Nita at City Hall after a meeting with Governor Fauzi Bowo.

"We decided to take action because so far the administration has not implemented the 2005 city regulation on non-smoking areas and on air pollution control.

People caught smoking in the aforementioned public areas will be warned and required to sign an agreement stating they will not smoke in any restricted areas in the future, she said.

"We will not punish people caught smoking during the activity. We just want to embarrass them into reconsidering their actions, instead of punishing or fining them," said Nita.

Twelve NGOs, including the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) and Forum of Jakarta Residents (Fakta), will join the action.

"Officers from the city administration, the Jakarta environmental management board (BPLHD), the public order agency and the tourism agency will also participate," she said.

To coincide with the action, there will be a series of anti-smoking surveys conducted at office buildings throughout the capital, said Fakta coordinator Azas Tigor Nainggolan.

"The administration has agreed to the surveys. 70 percent of the surveys will take place in government buildings, like City Hall and subdistrict offices," said Tigor.

The smoking ban was imposed in January 2006.

People who violate the regulation face up to six months jail or a Rp 50 million (US$4,555) fine.

The smoking restriction was one of the key points in the administration's 2005 bylaw on air pollution control.

Although Jakarta issued the ruling years ago, the bylaw on air control has been deemed unworkable and has not been enforced, so smokers have not been punished for breaching it thus far.

Fauzi said the administration would tighten their enforcement of the anti-smoking regulation.

"The monitoring will be divided into regions. A subdistrict head, for example, will monitor the enforcement of the law in his or her subdistrict area. We will begin this way before implementing the law on public transportation," said Fauzi.

Highlights of the anti-smoking regulation:
- Managers or individuals overseeing restricted areas are responsible for ensuring their staff do not smoke in those areas. They also must impose punishments for staff caught smoking in the areas.
- Public areas and office buildings should provide a smoking room.
- School principals must forbid teachers and students from smoking around school areas.
- Students or teachers can warn people not to smoke at schools.
- Drivers or conductors should forbid passengers from smoking on public transport.

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Henry Manoe (not verified) — Sat, 11/15/2008 - 4:04pm

As non-smokers have no option to inhale cigarette smoke wherever there are smokers (inside or outside buildings, busses, etc.), smoking should be banned everywhere except, perhaps, in the privacy of ones own home. Even in ones own home it also should be an offence when children are present. SMOKERS HAVE NO RIGHT whatsoever to subject non-smokers to their smoke. However, it is the government’s responsibility to enforce the no-smoking by-law. I think that the role of NGOs should be restricted to warn people of the dangers of smoking and lobby government to try to reduce the incidence of smoking especially among children; not help government to enforce the law. Of course lobbyist against smoking fight an uphill battle as our law makers are firmly in the pocket of the tobacco industry. Money speaks as always in Indonesia; the health of its population is of secondary concern to those who we elected!

Rahadi Widodo (not verified) — Fri, 11/14/2008 - 2:20pm

They can Raid Citra Graha building on Gatot Subroto..Everyone smokes in the stair wells and toilets especially 10th floor.

David K. (not verified) — Fri, 11/14/2008 - 10:49am

It's not that I do not believe in the law, I am a smoker, but I adhere to public laws that prohibit smoking in certain areas, and only smoke in designated areas. I do not smoke in public transportation, hospitals, schools, offices, my own office, and i don't even smoke if children are within 50 meters of me. What I do not like is groups of people whether they be Islamic or NGO taking the law into thier own hands, and to top it off with the blessing of the government. Providing them the freedom to act on thier own to right the wrongs of society, will provide individuals with the conception that it is okay to take the law into our own hands.

Nairdah (not verified) — Thu, 11/13/2008 - 9:09am

I agree that it is a further dangerous move to allow the public/NGO's to become involved in law enforcement. We know where this led in Nazi Germany and Maoist China. Law enforcement must remain strictly the province of authorised officials.

However, in the absence of effective Government programs to protect the peoples health and well being from tobacco smoke, NGO's can play a potentially very important role by providing services to help those people that seek to give up this addictive drug. And while Indonesia is still a democracy, NGO's have a role to continue their campaign to eliminate blatant advertising of tobacco. Indonesia is now one of the last few countries in the world where billboard advertising of tobacco is permitted.

Whilst various individuals and organisations may claim the right to smoke, in a civilised society no one has the right to impose upon the health and well being of others. By all means, if you are addicted to smoking, I respect your right to go and smoke but not near me thank you. Please respect the fundamental human right of others to clean air to breath - especially the children.

Passer by (not verified) — Wed, 11/12/2008 - 1:53pm

I agree with NGO's action cause I'm sick and tired with bunch of moronic people who keep smoking in public transportation as if they OWN the air.

Dude, if you want to smoke, go to your own house and poison your own family.

David K. (not verified) — Wed, 11/12/2008 - 12:52pm

I guess not only hard line Islamist are the only that are given a green light to do what they want whenever they want without impunity, NGO's get to do whatever they want as well and are roving bands of crusaders out for their own brand of "justice" to right the wrong in the world.

Another great day for Indonesia law enforcement.

I would have no problem if proper law enforcement agencies enforced the law, but when i read that so called NGO's (funded by outside groups with dubious goals) are allowed and encouraged to enforce laws, then we start to walk down the slippery slope of providing the image that if you think something is wrong with the government or society you can take actions into your own hand. Slip and slide people.

Ahmed Musiol (not verified) — Wed, 11/12/2008 - 12:07pm

DOn't you people have better things to do? Why not turn Indonesia into a police state again. Islam gives us the freedom to make choices. Why do politicians always want to play God?

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