Jakarta – Antitobacco campaigners have lambasted new provisions in a culture bill recognizing kretek (clove cigarettes) as a part of national cultural heritage and obliging the government to safeguard their existence.

Article 37 of the draft law stipulates that the state acknowledges, appreciates and protects kretek as a part of cultural heritage, while article 49 ordains support through inventory, documentation, facility development and promotion via festivals.

Kartono Mohamad, an advisor with the National Commission on Tobacco Control (KNPT), sees the insertion of the articles as reckless and heedless of the dangers of smoking.

"To hold festivals [celebrating kretek] is the same as telling your children to smoke," Kartono told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Supporting kretek, he said, would also burden the economy, as 60 percent of the cloves used in the production of the cigarettes are imported from China, Turkey, Brazil and Zimbabwe, where they can be sourced more cheaply than local cloves.

The government is currently working to curb tobacco consumption in the country, with the number of smokers standing at around a quarter of the total population.

Measures have included limiting tobacco advertising and helping local administrations to set up smoke-free zones in 160 regions.

The latest effort involves a plan to raise cigarette duties, with the funds directly channeled to the national health insurance (JKN) program.

Tulus Abadi from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) said the articles contradicted Article 113 of the Health Law, which states that the government should limit and prevent abuse of addictive substances, including tobacco.

Besides the Health Law, the articles, according to Tulus, also contradict a Jakarta bylaw banning cigarette ads in public spaces. "If the lawmakers approve the bill, [pro-tobacco campaigners] will have grounds to argue for the annulment of the bylaw," he said on Saturday.

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has suggested the inclusion of a total ban on cigarette ads on radio in the draft of the new Broadcasting Law.

"The insertion of the two articles is very suspicious [....] It is blindingly obvious that there are certain lawmakers in cahoots with the tobacco industry," Tulus told the Post.

Members of the House of Representatives are divided over the provisions. The draft bill was formulated by the House's Commission X overseeing education, sport and history before being discussed with the House Legislation Body (Baleg).

Teguh Juwarno, a Commission X member from the National Mandate Party (PAN), said that the commission had inserted no mention of kretek in the bill, meaning Baleg had added the articles.

"PAN rejected the insertion of the articles. We deeply regret the sudden appearance of these articles after we met Baleg to synchronize our opinions about the draft. The cigarette industry is certainly involved in this," Teguh said.

Yayuk Sri Rahayuningsih, another Commission X member from the NasDem Party, also said that Baleg had inserted the provisions; however, she voiced support for them. "We agree with [the articles] because the tradition is present in every village," she said.

Taufiqul Hadi, a Baleg member, also from NasDem, confirmed that the body had inserted the articles. "Kretek is unique. Only here is there a tradition of mixing cloves and tobacco," he said.

The culture bill is not final, with a House plenary session and government meeting needed before it can be passed into law. (rbk)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/29/activists-left-fuming-pro-kretek-bill.html