Dessy Sagita – 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.