The Dortmund Kills alliance, together with several well known international organizations, sent an open letter to the Indonesian Minister of Health, Dr Nafsiah Mboi.
Letter
17th February, 2014
Honorable Dr. Nafsiah Mboi,
Following the latest news from Indonesia, we would like to congratulate you for introducing graphic health warnings on tobacco products starting in June 2014. It is a big step forward for public health in Indonesia on the way towards the accession of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Currently, we are deeply concerned about the situation arising in Bali, where the German company Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH (owned by the City of Dortmund) plans to hold a tobacco trade fair, the Inter-tabac Asia (combined with the ProTobEx Asia) on 27 th and 28 th February 2014.
In the last three months, a protest movement against this trade fair has emerged, in Indonesia as well as at the international level. More than 12,000 people from around the world signed an online petition to the Mayor of Dortmund, Ullrich Sierau, asking him to stop the city-owned company from implementing the trade fair.
Unfortunately, the Mayor refused to receive the petition, even though Yosef Rabindanata Nugraha, an Indonesian activist of Indonesia Bebas Rokok, travelled all the way to Germany to meet him. You might have followed the news in the Jakarta Post.
In Indonesia, strong opposition mounted from health practitioners, civil society organisations and the public has gathered momentum. Three weeks ago, Governor Made Mangku Pastika has publicly rejected the trade fair to be held in Bali and indicated his principal opposition in a letter to your Ministry dated 4th Feb. 2014. Reportedly, the Bali government informed the organizers of the Inter-tabac Asia about this rejection.
We welcome the position of Governor Made Mangku Pastika, who is committed to enforce the provincial smoke-free bylaw (perda No. 10/2011 from 29 th Nov. 2011). Opposing the tobacco industry’s strategy toopen up the Asian market through trade fairs and defending tobacco control regulations, the Governor of Bali shows a firm stand in favour of public health in Indonesia.
Nevertheless, the organizing company insists on holding the tobacco trade fair in Bali, stating on their website: „Contrary to misleading information published across some media channels, the Inter-tabac Asia and ProTobEx Asia trade fairs will be taking place as planned. (11/02/14)“ They claim to have obtained a permission for holding the fair by the police.
We strongly encourage you to back the Governor’s ban of the tobacco trade fair Inter-tabac ASIA on a legal basis and to publicly announce your position towards tobacco trade fairs in Indonesia.
With sincere regards,
Laurent Huber
Executive Director
Action on Smoking & Health
USA
Sheila Duffy
Chief Executive
ASH Scotland
Scotland
Max Vollmer
President
German Association for Youth Protection
Germany
Dr. Johannes Spatz
Spokesperson
Smoke Free Forum
Germany
Yosef Rabindanata Nugraha
Chief Executive Officer
Indonesia Bebas Rokok
Indonesia
Dr. med. Burkhard Lawrenz
Chairperson
Regional Association Westfalen-Lippe of
Professional Association of Pediatricians
Germany
Pascal Diethelm
President
OxyRomandie
Switzerland
Mary Assunta
Senior Policy Advisor
SEATCA
Thailand
Sonja von Eichborn
Project director
Unfairtobacco.org
Germany
