Selasa 03 Jul 2012 18:11 WIB

Tobacco farmers hold a rally against the bill

Rep: Satya Festiani/Umi Lailatul / Red: Yeyen Rostiyani
Tobacco farmers rally outside the office of Ministry of Health on Tuesday.
Foto: Antara/M Agung Rajasa
Tobacco farmers rally outside the office of Ministry of Health on Tuesday.

 

REPUBLIKA CO.ID., JAKARTA - The draft of government regulation on tobacco (dubbed as RPP Tembakau -Ed) still draws some protest. This time, the tobacco farmers united in the National Coalition of Clove Cigarette Saviors and Tobacco Farmers Alliance (APTI) rallied outside the office of Ministry of Health on Tuesday.

The farmers, coming from cities in Central Java such as Wonosobo, Boyolali, Temanggung, and Kendal, rejected the signing of the bill as they feared it could ruin the life of tobacco farmers. A tobacco farmer from Tangerang, Salimah (41 years), claimed that farmers from Bali also joined the protest and she hoped government would listen to their aspirations.

"Our life depends on cigarette," she said.