NU appreciates govt stance on FCTC

Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) appreciated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) for still having no plans to ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).<>

Deputy Secretary General of NU Mohammad Sulthan Fatoni said, the issue of ratification of the FCTC and Health Act had disturbed  tobacco farmers to obtain their basic rights of life. The president's measure was considered as a form of his stand in defending the farmers.

"It's a matter of protection, justice, welfare, and the improvement of community life that must be met by the government. The FCTC is a symbol of the strength of the global economy, and it is a grateful attitude of president that is without doubt on the side of the people," Sulthan told reporters here Saturday (8/3).

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam told reporters at the State Palace that Yudhoyono “has not said anything about ratifying” the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

He added that his office, through which legislation, conventions and other bills are channeled before going to the president to sign, had not received anything on the FCTC from the Health Ministry or the office of the coordinating minister for people’s welfare.

Dipo stressed that Yudhoyono was “in no rush” to ratify the FCTC because of the impact it would have on the country’s tobacco growers.

“Tobacco farmers needn’t be overly concerned or start holding protests just yet,” he said. “I don’t believe the president is in any rush to ratify this convention.

“He’ll look at all aspects, the economic as well as the social. The clove cigarette industry is incredibly important. The government makes Rp 110 trillion [$9.57 billion] a year from the excise, and a total of Rp 150 trillion if you include national and regional income tax.

“Let me just emphasize again that no one has said or is saying that the president has ratified the FCTC.”

He was speaking in response to reports that Yudhoyono was on the verge of ratifying the convention, first raised on Feb. 25 by Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi, who said the president “has agreed” to the landmark decision.

“Now it’s in ratification process,” she said as quoted by Tempo.co.

She said there was an understanding between the various government ministries about the importance of ratification and the need for measures to protect tobacco growers and tobacco industry workers.

Nafsiah said the president had supported the ratification of the FCTC from the beginning, and denied that lobbying by the tobacco industry had prevented him from signing sooner, Tempo.co reported.

Indonesia is the only country in Asia and one of 10 worldwide not to sign the FCTC, which calls for stronger regulation of the production, sale, distribution, advertisement and taxation of tobacco products.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq