Jakarta Globe, Dessy Sagita, October 22, 2013
Indonesia’s
reluctance to impose stricter smoking regulations and accede to the World
Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has made it a
global laughing stock, activists say.
“Every
single civilized country has taken action by ratifying the FCTC, but in spite
of being one of the biggest democratic countries, Indonesia is still acting
very much uncivilized,” Sudibyo Markus, the vice chairman of Muhammadiyah,
Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, and an advisor to the Indonesia
Institute Social for Development told the Jakarta Globe.
The FCTC is
a treaty adopted by the UN World Health Assembly in 2003. It has been ratified
by 168 of 192 countries and it is legally binding in 177 countries, accounting
for more than 85 percent of the world’s population.
The treaty
requires signatories to adopt tax and price measures to reduce tobacco
consumption by banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, creating
smoke-free work and public spaces, putting prominent health warnings on tobacco
packages and combating the illicit trade in tobacco products.
Indonesia
is the only country within the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations that
has not ratified the convention.
“Can you
imagine, even East Timor — a country much younger — has ratified the
convention? This is beyond embarrassing,” Sudibyo said.
Within the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which consists of 57 member states, only
Indonesia and Somalia have not ratified or acceded to the FCTC.
Sudibyo
said the Ministry of Health’s efforts to accelerate the accession have been
challenged by the tobacco industry and even some state institutions.
“Indonesia
is the only country that stands outside this most important global
public-health treaty in Asia, the Pacific and the G-20,” Tara Singh Bam, an
adviser at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said.
Last month,
the Indonesian government received heavy criticism after it challenged
Australia’s decision to implement unbranded cigarette packaging, calling it a
blatant act to protect the tobacco industry.
The World
Trade Organization said Indonesia had made a formal request for consultations
with Australia on the issue, which under its rules is the first step in a trade
dispute.
Indonesia
is the fifth country to challenge Australia at the WTO over its pioneering
legislation passed in 2011 and implemented last December. The measures require
tobacco products to be sold in drab green boxes with neutral typeface and
graphic images of diseased smokers.
“As a part
of the United Nations, we have been thoroughly embarrassed in various
international forums, and we all know tobacco lobbyists are behind this,”
Sudibyo said.
The WHO’s
most recent FCTC meeting held in New Delhi last July singled out Indonesia’s
reluctance to accede to the convention.
Smoking
reportedly kills at least 235,000 Indonesians annually.
(JG
Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)
|
Related Articles:
Jakarta to Instate New Cigarette Tax
Tobacco Control Stumps Indonesia’s Health Minister
Reluctance on Tobacco Rules Puts Lives at Risk
Jakarta to Instate New Cigarette Tax
Tobacco Control Stumps Indonesia’s Health Minister
Reluctance on Tobacco Rules Puts Lives at Risk
No comments:
Post a Comment