Smokers Displeased because of Cigarette Ads
In almost all countries tobacco use, especially in public places was prohibited. However all smokers consider that smoking is as much a psychological desire as it is a physiological satisfaction. For example, one smoker explained: "It is not the taste that counts. It’s that sense of satisfaction you get from a cigarette that you can’t get from anything else."
Most of smokers and even non-smokers don’t consider that anti-tobacco measures are enough for to save their health. For example the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) said that the broadcast of cigarette advertisements violates human rights due to the fact that Cigarette ads have been manipulated.
The degree and type of advertising in Indonesia is important because local Indonesian cigarette advertisements appeal to, and reflect, a charming collage of especially Indonesian cultural values and desires. That’s why the Indonesian Government doesn’t want to ban tobacco advertisements. Statistics show that over 45% of Indonesians are under the age of 20 years old.
Tulus Abadi, YLKI official, reported: "Cigarette ads have empirically displeased human rights because they don’t contain clear and apparent information." According to Mr. Abadi, YLKI has set out several attempts to block the deadly effects of cigarettes over the smokers. The foundation has also filed a trial against the House of Representatives (DPR) and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Central Jakarta District Court for not approving the world’s consent on the dangers of smoking.
However, the Judges declared that the President and the House had implemented their legal duty in defending the citizens. "The President’s claim saying that he’s performed his legal responsibility was an empty claim. There wasn’t any proof," Abadi said.
He continued: "If they really gave legal protection, the President and DPR should have established a regulation to overcome the danger of smoking. But in reality, that never happened." Another attempt that has been carried out to control the danger of smoking was by proposing the incorporation of picture-based cautions showing up the danger of tobacco on every cigarette pack to the Health Minister.
One of the reasons of why the Court refused to ban cigarette ads is because it considers that this ban will violate the human rights. The Court also considered cigarettes as legal products. Therefore, the airing of cigarette ads must also be seen legal.
