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Nonsmoking raid targets managements
AGAINST THE SMOKE: Students from the public health and medical departments at the University of Indonesia protes Monday in front of City Hall
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AGAINST THE SMOKE: Students from the public health and medical departments at the University of Indonesia protes Monday in front of City Hall. They demanded the administration enforce the bylaw on restricted smoking areas. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
The Jakarta environmental management board (BPLHD) and a number of anti-smoking NGOs will target building managements ignoring the bylaw on nonsmoking areas.
The institutions will conduct the sweep in some areas of the city's five municipalities: Blok M in South Jakarta, Grogol in West Jakarta, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and Lapangan Banteng in Central Jakarta, Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta and Rawamangun in East Jakarta, BPLHD said.
"We will warn managers or individuals overseeing buildings without smoking rooms or nonsmoking signs in restricted public areas," BPLHD head, Budirama Natakusumah, said Monday.
"We will make them sign an agreement stating they will immediately provide the facilities," he said.
The eight-day sweep, which will be held from Nov. 19 to 27, will target public areas where smoking is banned under the bylaw, including office buildings, medical centers, schools, places of worship, children's playgrounds, public transportation and shopping centers.
Budirama said some agencies would take part in the sweep by inspecting institutions under their authority. The education agency, for instance, will inspect schools, while the health agency will inspect medical centers, he said.
The administration and NGOs originally planned to start the raid Monday, but it was postponed until Wednesday due to a technical error, said Nita Yudi from the Women Against Tobacco Association (WITT).
The smoking ban was imposed in January 2006.
People who violate the regulation face up to six months in jail or a Rp 50 million (US$4,555) fine.
Although Jakarta issued the regulation years ago, the bylaw has been deemed unworkable and has not been enforced. So far, smokers have not been punished for breaching it.
The Forum of Jakarta Residents (Fakta) surveyed mall owners in 2007, discovering that 60 out of 90 malls in Jakarta were against the nonsmoking bylaw.
Meanwhile, the sweep has sparked various comments from Jakartans, including smokers.
Most smokers blamed the administration for not providing more public smoking rooms.
"I don't want to smoke in public, but with the lack of facilities, what can I do? The administration should also consider providing us with more spaces," Nino, a university student, told The Jakarta Post.
Another smoker, Ellen, urged administration officials to act as role models.
"I can still see city officials smoking in public," Ellen, a student at Prof. Dr. Moestopo University, said.
Ani, a nonsmoker, said she hoped the raids continued after the raids.
"It is good, especially for us passive smokers. However, we want the officials to continue this program by consistently imposing strict penalties."
But not everyone agrees with the bylaw and the raids.
"I had no idea about the regulation, but I know that my office and several public facilities provide a space for smokers. I think that's good enough. I don't think we need a random raid," said Moe Halim, an accountant. (hdt)
