Indonesia finds anti-smoking plans a drag
Two-thirds of Indonesians smoke and a one-tenth of country’s revenue comes from its tobacco tax.
Published On 12 Nov 2012
Taxes on cigarettes, advertising and smoking bans will be discussed at the World Health Organisation’s Tobacco summit opening in Seoul on November 12.
Representatives from 170 countries are participating in the event, which aims to curb the habit that, according to the world body, kills nearly six million people every year.
But one of the world’s most populous country, Indonesia, is skipping the meeting. The country’s tobacco lobby has pressured the government the defy the global effort.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Jakarta.
Source: Al Jazeera