ASIA / PACIFIC
July 7, 2014
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3
Cigarette makers ignore
Indonesia label deadline
By Margie Mason
AP Medical Writer
AKARTA, Indonesia
— Tobacco compa-
nies largely ignored
an Indonesian deadline to
put graphic health warn-
ings on all cigarette packs
being sold, another setback
for anti-smoking efforts in
a country that is home to
the world’s highest rate of
male smokers and a wild,
wild west of advertising.
Despite having a year-
and-a-half
to
prepare
warning photos that are to
cover
40
percent
of
cigarette
packs,
most
tobacco companies failed to
meet the June 24 deadline,
according to the National
Commission for Child
Protection. It found little
sign of change in brands
sold in Jakarta and 11
other cities across the
sprawling archipelago.
“This clearly indicates
that the cigarette industry
has defied Indonesian law,”
said commission chair
Arist Merdeka Sirait. “The
government
has
been
defeated by the cigarette
industry.”
Only 409 of the more
than 3,300 brands owned
by 672 companies nation-
wide had registered the
photos they plan to use on
their products as of June
23, according to the Food
and
Drug
Monitoring
Agency. They were given a
choice of five images last
June.
Health minister Nafsiah
Mboi said companies that
missed the deadline will be
issued warnings, and those
that fail to comply could
eventually be fined up to
$42,000 and executives
could face five years in
prison.
Indonesia’s
biggest
cigarette producer, Philip
Morris-owned Sampoerna,
said it began distributing
products with the new
warnings, but needed more
time to clear out existing
stock. But the labels were
J
BRING THEM BACK. Students from St. Scholastica’s College, a Catholic school in Manila, show mes-
sages on their forearms as they shout slogans and display placards during a protest outside their campus in Ma-
nila, the Philippines. Thousands of Filipino students from the school joined a global campaign to free more than
200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamic extremists in Nigeria, chanting “bring them back” and urging motorists in
the Philippine capital to honk their car horns in solidarity. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Filipino students:
Free kidnapped Nigerian girls
MANILA, The Philippines (AP) —
Thousands of Filipino students from a
Roman Catholic-run school for girls have
joined a global campaign to free more than
200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamic
extremists in Nigeria, chanting “bring
them back” and urging motorists in the
Philippine capital to honk their car horns
in solidarity.
About 4,000 grade school to college
students and nuns of St. Scholastica’s
College spilled out of their campus to line
up a busy street in Manila, many of them
carrying placards that read “Bring Back
Our Girls” and thumping their fists in the
air as they chanted. They gave commuters
a statement calling for the release of the
girls and affirming their belief that girls
deserve to be educated.
Extremists from Boko Haram — which
means “western education is sinful” —
Summer Run
first abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in
Nigeria in April. Witnesses said they took
91 more people, including toddlers as
young as three, in attacks on villages in
that African country last month, providing
fresh evidence of the military’s failure to
curb an Islamic uprising and the
government’s inability to provide security.
The most recent victims included 60
girls and women, some of whom were
married, and 31 boys, witnesses said.
Celine Saplala, a nun and official of the
school, said the rally was meant to appeal
to the abductors and to people all over the
world to free the girls and respect “their
right just like anybody else to pursue their
dream for an education.”
“Please bring back our girls,” said senior
college student Roelle Charmaine Bito.
“We have the right to be educated, each
and every one of us.”
Retirement Apartments
• Studio & One-Bedroom Apartments
• Affordable Rent with No Costly
Buy-Ins or Application Fees
• Federal Rent Subsidies Available
• Ideal Urban location near shopping,
bus lines, restaurants, and more!
7810 SE Foster Road
Portland, OR 97206
503 • 774 • 8885
• Enjoy our small community
atmosphere that’s relaxed &
friendly!
LAG IN LABELLING. New packs of cigarettes displaying pictorial
health warnings are arranged on a counter by a shop attendant for
photographers at a convenience store in Jakarta, Indonesia. Tobacco
companies largely snubbed an Indonesian law requiring them to put
graphic photo warnings on all cigarette packs being sold, marking another
setback in a country that is home to the world’s highest rate of male
smokers and a wild, wild west of advertising. A national survey in 2012
found that 67 percent of all males over age 15 smoke. (AP Photo/Tatan
Syuflana)
supposed to be displayed on are proposed, and lobbyists
shelves by June 24, Mboi maintain tight connections
said.
with politicians in a
“We believe the govern- government rife with graft.
ment will implement the
Many forms of tobacco
regulation consistently and advertising long banned in
fairly, so as to realize a the west remain ubiqui-
climate of healthy competi- tous here. Towering bill-
tion
among
cigarette boards and LED screens
manufacturers, as well as scream messages such as,
providing clear informa- “Marlboro Ice Blast ...
tion about the impact of crush it, unleash it.” At the
smoking
on
health,” main international airport,
Sampoerna
spokesman a bright blue advertise-
Tommy Hersyaputera said. ment
for
Clas
mild
Indonesia has a long cigarettes urges, “Act Now!
history of delaying tobacco Talk less do more.” Tobacco
regulations. The graphic commercials are still on
warnings stem from health television, and although
regulations that passed in new
regulations
ban
2009, though it wasn’t until sponsorship of events,
18 months ago that a some
companies
have
specific decree was issued continued that practice.
for implementation. And
Tobacco-related illnesses
Indonesia is one of the few kill at least 200,000 each
countries that has not year in the country, which
joined a World Health has a population of around
Organization
tobacco 240 million. A national
treaty. The order has taken survey in 2012 found that
years to reach President 67 percent of all males over
Susilo
Bambang age 15 smoke
— the
Yudhoyono’s desk, and he world’s highest rate —
still has not signed it. He while 35 percent of the total
will leave office in October population
lights
up,
after elections this month.
surpassed only by Russia.
Tobacco
control
is
Most Indonesian men
particularly contentious in buy strong and pungent
Indonesia, the world’s kreteks, filled with a mix of
fifth-largest
cigarette tobacco and cloves. But
producer and a growth so-called white cigarettes,
market for the industry. such as U.S.-based Philip
Farmers
hold
rowdy Morris
International’s
protests when restrictions
Continued on page 7
Lucky 21 Casino
Dragon Bonus Baccarat w Fortune Pai Gow Poker w Blackjack w Spanish 21
Lucky Ladies Jackpot w Ultimate Texas Hold’em w Video Poker w And More
Hiring: Experienced Vietnamese Cook
SPIN THE WHEEL
FOR CASH & PRIZES
w Every Friday: $888.00 top prize!
Old members & new members
Stay & gamble for 2 hours
Check-in time: 11am to 10pm
Drawing time: 3pm to midnight
w Every Monday & Wednesday:
$388.00 top prize!
First come, first served
Check-in time: 1pm to 6:30pm
SUMMER
OUTDOOR
BBQ
Money Blower Drawing
Every Saturday at 9:30am
Every Tuesday & Thursday, starts at 2:00pm
Featuring
Chinese, American,
and Vietnamese
barbeque styles
Starting 7/05/2014. Must be a member & present to win. Inquire for details.
Drawing for a 55” television
Held every Sunday at 9:30pm
Sign up for a drawing to win a 55” TV! Every person, every day, every hour!
O pen to old members & new members. Must be present to win.
.
Recent $169,000 Pai Gow
High Hand Poker winner
Every Tuesday
6pm to 10pm
1020 Atlantic Ave. (I-5 Exit 21), Woodland, WA 98674 w (360) 841-8567 w www.oaktreerestaurantwa.com