http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/indonesia.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/6/25/no-smoking-photo-exhibition-at-parliament-building/ http://tobacco.org/news/268130.html A two-day photo exhibition themed "Cigarettes, Youths and Poverty" is being held at the Parliament Building here on Wednesday and Thursday (June 26-26) to mark `World No-Tobacco Day` which fell on May 31, 2008. House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono officially opened the exhibition, organized by the Parliamentary Forum for Population and Development (IFPPD). Antara Interactive Indonesia Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailbusiness.asp?fileid=20080628.L02&irec=1 http://tobacco.org/news/267778.html Get energized with food and drink or a friend's call, rather than with a cigarette, is the message television viewers in Indonesia have received during the midnight broadcasts of Euro 2008 soccer matches over the past few weeks, a study shows. . . . Mobile phone service providers Indosat and Mobile 8 were third and fourth on the list of top advertisers, beating cigarette companies Djarum Super and Sampoerna Mild. . . . Break times during Euro 2004 were filled by Gudang Garam cigarette, Krating Daeng energy drink, telecommunications company Telkom, LG television and Garuda roasted peanuts. On normal evenings, cigarette ads are missing from the TV, leaving the space to be dominated by McDonald's, Mobile 8, Clear shampoo, Molto fabric softener, Top and Pop ice creams, and Sunsilk shampoo. Jakarta Post readersforum@thejakartapost.com Indonesia Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/6/19/mui-urged-to-issue-fatwa-on-smoking/ http://tobacco.org/news/267358.html A sociologist at the University of Indonesia (UI) has urged the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to issue a fatwa (edict) on smoking, arguing tobacco is an addictive substance that causes many diseases. "MUI should issue a fatwa because tobacco is an addictive subtsance causing many diseases and taking away 11 percent of the income of poor people," sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo said at a public discussion on the impact of tobacco consumption here Thursday. Fuad Baradja, a movie actor who recently became an anti-smoking activist, also said the many negative effects of smoking should be sufficient ground for MUI to pronounce its opinion on smoking based on Islamic teachings. In response to the calls, Prof Dr KH Ali Mustafa Yakub, vice chairman of MUI`s Fatwa Commission, said the Council had so far not issued any edict on smoking because it had not received any official requests or complaints from the public. Antara Interactive Indonesia Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a.wHPOEbhY.c&refer=asia http://tobacco.org/news/267356.html PT Gudang Garam, Indonesia's second- biggest cigarette maker, said it expects the Surya Slims brand introduced last year to help boost sales even as some key directors resigned today. ``We will work hard to increase our sales of the low nicotine cigarettes,'' Director Heru Budiman told a press briefing in Kediri, East Java today. He declined to elaborate or forecast sales. Gudang Garam introduced its first thin cigarette a year ago to appeal to younger Indonesians and slow a decline in market share. PT H.M. Sampoerna, a unit of Altria Group Inc. of the U.S., overtook Gudang Garam as Indonesia's largest cigarette seller by rupiah revenue in 2006. Gudang Garam's weakness is that it's ``perceived as the cigarette brand for the elder,'' Bloomberg News wahyudi@bloomberg.net (Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja) Indonesia Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aQsYV89Kx7vg&refer=asia http://tobacco.org/news/267355.html PT Gudang Garam, Indonesia's second- biggest cigarette maker by sales, said it plans to pay 250 rupiah ($0.03 cents) a share dividend on last year's profit. Gudang Garam will pay a total of 481 billion rupiah in dividends, the company said after a shareholders meeting in Kediri, East Java, today. Its net income rose 44 percent to 1.44 trillion rupiah last year. Bloomberg News wahyudi@bloomberg.net (Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja) Indonesia Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20080612.F05&irec=4 http://tobacco.org/news/266814.html The article of Julia Suryakusuma (The Jakarta Post, June 4, p. 7) is one of the latest articles and news reports on how to control smoking in Indonesia. I refer also to John Hargreaves' letter (the Post, June 6, p. 7) concerning the same issue. I am an ex-smoker of a 40-year habit (much to my disgrace) but, since I stopped in 2002, I just can't stand the smell any more. I was given a very short treatment for just two days by a Muslim homeopath in New Delhi and I have lost even the cravings now. While I sympathize with smokers about the urge to smoke when and where they like, I wish to point out that most civilized people have consideration for others and are law abiding. Most hotels reek of cigarette smoke . . . As a result of my 40 year habit, I have mild peripheral arterial disease, but I manage with all kinds of exercises etc. I don't wish to elaborate on the evil effects which are well known. For all smokers, my plea is this only: Kick it! Jakarta Post readersforum@thejakartapost.com ( M. SEETHARAM Kuta, Bali) Indonesia Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20080611.F06&irec=5 http://tobacco.org/news/266730.html I refer to an article titled "Govt urged to ban cigarette ads," (The Jakarta Post, June 1, p. 1) I am delighted that the young people have taken to the streets on this life-and-death issue. But it shouldn't be just for one day. There needs to be a concerted pressure until this evil is removed from our streets. This is a real menace which must be abolished. Since the police don't seem to care about enforcing the law (children on overcrowded motorbikes, for example), I would suggest that unless the government impose a ban in the very near future -- let's give them three months -- we rip down these posters and signboards and (safely) cut off their electricity supply. . . . Am I advocating breaking the law? If religious leaders can get away with saying that if the government doesn't disband a sect they would take the law into their own evil hands, why should I not say the same for an entirely beneficial purpose? Jakarta Post readersforum@thejakartapost.com (RAFIQ MAHMOOD Bogor, West Java) Indonesia Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20080609.H03&irec=2 http://tobacco.org/news/266594.html he Indonesian Network of Women Against Tobacco (WITT) presented awards Saturday to several public figures for their efforts in fighting tobacco addiction in the country. Among the recipients of the World No Tobacco Awards were Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, prominent businessman James Riady, entertainer Indro Warkop, disc jockey Winky Wiryawan and Formula 3 race car driver Alexandra Asmasoebrata. . . . "These people have proven they can gain success without smoking. We have also given awards to former smokers, like Indro Warkop. We really appreciate his efforts to quit smoking," WITT executive and former supermodel Nana Krit told The Jakarta Post. Jakarta Post readersforum@thejakartapost.com Indonesia Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20080529.D04&irec=3 http://tobacco.org/news/266045.html Indonesia and other countries in the world need to scale up the cost-effective, proven and WHO recommended strategies to reduce the number of deaths attributed to tobacco use. The World Health Statistics Report (2008) of WHO released 10 days before this year's World No Tobacco Day (May 31) ups the urgency to scale up quality interventions to control tobacco use. About half of all countries in the world implement none of the recommended tobacco control policies, despite the fact that tobacco control measures are cost-effective and proven. Moreover, not more than 5 percent of the world's population is fully covered by any one of these measures. . . . The alert monitoring of tobacco corporations in Indonesia and holding them accountable for violating existing health policies will further boost the impact of the WHO's recommended MPOWER package in reducing tobacco use globally. Jakarta Post bobbyramakant@yahoo.com (Bobby Ramakant, Singapore) Indonesia Thu, 29 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20080513.D05 http://tobacco.org/news/265257.html The three schoolgirls are just a small part of the growing number of youths addicted to cigarettes. The 2006 World Health Organization's Global Tobacco Youth Survey showed 68.1 percent of junior high school students in Jakarta could easily buy cigarettes without being asked to prove they were older than 17. It also showed by the age of 13 to 15, at least 37.3 percent of children had tried smoking. Seto Mulyadi of the National Commission for Children said these children were also known as premature smokers. He said students were prone to start smoking because of the strong advertising campaigns conducted by cigarette companies. He also said public service announcements had gradually lost their grip in sculpturing youth behavior today. Jakarta Post Indonesia Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20080513.D06 http://tobacco.org/news/265256.html With more people living healthier lifestyles, you might think quitting smoking is going to be the next big thing. Unfortunately, it's not. "Smoking is still a trend today," said Widjajanti, the secretary-general of Lembaga Menangani Masalah Merokok (LM3), a non-profit organization striving for a smoke-free society. "What's horrible is 80 percent of junior high and high school students have tried smoking or are regular smokers," she said. If the trend continues, about 1 billion people will have died from smoking by 2010, she said. The organization reported at least 59 percent of men and 3.7 percent of women in Indonesia are smokers, while some 215 billion cigarettes are smoked in the country last year. Widjajanti has provided counseling for four years to smokers who want to kick the habit. Jakarta Post Indonesia Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/Archives/ArchivesDet2.asp?FileID=20080426.B09 http://tobacco.org/news/264181.html Indonesian sports associations are trying to wean themselves off sponsorships from tobacco companies, as the government looks to follow the example of other Asian nations who have banned the practice. "I agree that ideally, tobacco companies should not sponsor any sporting events. But we can't ban their sponsorship now because we don't have other potential sources of funds," State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. He said current restrictions for tobacco advertising on broadcasting hours and for junior sports events may be extended to a directive ban in the next five years. Jakarta Post Indonesia Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSJAK15742020080327 http://tobacco.org/news/263592.html Indonesian tobacco firm PT Gudang Garam Tbk's GGRM.JK fourth quarter net profit more than doubled from a year ago thanks to lower operating expenses and interest charges. But the results of the country's largest tobacco company, best known for its traditional clove cigarettes, were below analysts' expectations because of strong competition from rivals and the impact of tougher government regulations and tariff pressure. Some analysts say Gudang Garam's products are mainly targeted at the lower income group, which is more sensitive to price fluctuations and broader economic condition, compared to rival Sampoerna which targets the largely higher income group. Reuters Indonesia Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20080417.H04&irec=6 http://tobacco.org/news/263492.html The National Commission for Child Protection lashed out at the government on Wednesday for "lacking the political will" to protect children from tobacco, and announced a plan to request a judicial review of the 2003 regulation on cigarette control. Commission secretary general Aris Merdeka Sirait said the government regulation was abusing children's rights by allowing cigarette advertising that encouraged them to smoke. He also criticized the regulation that did not specify any sanctions for violators. Jakarta Post readersforum@thejakartapost.com (Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta) Indonesia Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://old.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20080409.E01&irec=0 http://tobacco.org/news/262881.html Increasingly heavy burdens inflicted on Indonesians by tobacco-related diseases and deaths have made it imperative for the government to ratify the World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that severely restricts cigarette marketing and advertising. It is saddening to report that Indonesia and North Korea are the only countries in Asia that have yet to sign the WHO anti-tobacco pact. It is no wonder the country has remained a haven for cigarette companies Jakarta Post readersforum@thejakartapost.com Indonesia Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT