Prestigious award for Fauzi
We congratulate Governor Fauzi Bowo for the international community’s recognition of his anti-tobacco campaign. However, he still has to do more to increase public awareness of the dangers of cigarette smoke and other air pollutants in the capital.
The first tobacco legislation was issued in 2005 when the city, under Fauzi’s predecessor Sutiyoso, issued a bylaw on air pollution control. Several supporting regulations have been issued since. Unfortunately, they have not been able to significantly free public places from cigarette smoke.
The latest anti-smoking regulation was a 2011 gubernatorial regulation issued by Fauzi, which totally bans people from smoking inside public buildings. Under the regulation, building managers are prohibited from providing smoking areas inside their buildings.
“Many [Indonesian] cities have issued anti-smoking regulations, but Jakarta initiated the campaign. Currently, the Jakarta government is struggling to free the city from cigarette smoke,” World Health Organization representative to Indonesia Khanchit Limpakarjanarat said at an event to commemorate Tobacco Free Day at City Hall last Sunday.
We do not question whether the governor and the city deserve to receive such an award. But we have to say that the efforts to free Jakarta or at least its public places, from cigarette smoke still needs stronger commitment from relevant parties.
The media reported recently that building managers were still reluctant to abide by the regulations — operators of cafés, restaurants and entertainment centers are still afraid of losing their smoking customers, while many people are still free to smoke in train stations, bus terminals and inside public transportation vehicles.
We are aware that the job of anti-smoking campaigners is surely not easy in a country that is home to many large cigarette producers, including international brands, and the fact remains that smoking has become a habit for a large number of the people, including minors.
The essence of the anti-smoking legislation — no smoking in public places — is to protect non-smokers, including children, from second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, they are still unprotected because of widespread violations of the smoking ban. It is a strong indication that the regulation is still toothless against violators.
The job of Fauzi and relevant officials is to guarantee that existing regulations are imposed, with the laws upheld and the violators punished.
Meanwhile, other anti-tobacco campaigners have to continue their efforts to make people aware of the danger of tobacco smoke.
The first tobacco legislation was issued in 2005 when the city, under Fauzi’s predecessor Sutiyoso, issued a bylaw on air pollution control. Several supporting regulations have been issued since. Unfortunately, they have not been able to significantly free public places from cigarette smoke.
The latest anti-smoking regulation was a 2011 gubernatorial regulation issued by Fauzi, which totally bans people from smoking inside public buildings. Under the regulation, building managers are prohibited from providing smoking areas inside their buildings.
“Many [Indonesian] cities have issued anti-smoking regulations, but Jakarta initiated the campaign. Currently, the Jakarta government is struggling to free the city from cigarette smoke,” World Health Organization representative to Indonesia Khanchit Limpakarjanarat said at an event to commemorate Tobacco Free Day at City Hall last Sunday.
We do not question whether the governor and the city deserve to receive such an award. But we have to say that the efforts to free Jakarta or at least its public places, from cigarette smoke still needs stronger commitment from relevant parties.
The media reported recently that building managers were still reluctant to abide by the regulations — operators of cafés, restaurants and entertainment centers are still afraid of losing their smoking customers, while many people are still free to smoke in train stations, bus terminals and inside public transportation vehicles.
We are aware that the job of anti-smoking campaigners is surely not easy in a country that is home to many large cigarette producers, including international brands, and the fact remains that smoking has become a habit for a large number of the people, including minors.
The essence of the anti-smoking legislation — no smoking in public places — is to protect non-smokers, including children, from second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, they are still unprotected because of widespread violations of the smoking ban. It is a strong indication that the regulation is still toothless against violators.
The job of Fauzi and relevant officials is to guarantee that existing regulations are imposed, with the laws upheld and the violators punished.
Meanwhile, other anti-tobacco campaigners have to continue their efforts to make people aware of the danger of tobacco smoke.
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