FCTC ratification not on the agenda

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has no plans to ratify the global convention on tobacco control and will not rush to do so, according to a story in the Jakarta Post quoting a senior presidential aide.

At the end of February, a story on en.tempo.co quoting Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi indicated that the president had agreed to ratify the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

At that time, Nafsiah was quoted as saying the president had supported ratification of the treaty from the beginning; and she expressed the hope that ratification would proceed without problems.

But on Friday, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam told reporters at the state palace that Yudhoyono had not said anything about ratifying the convention.

He added that his office, through which legislation, conventions and other bills were channelled before going to the president for signature, 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.”