Some advocacy groups in Indonesia have come together to help raise support for a total ban on tobacco ads and sponsorship.

The groups, which formed the Total Ban Alliance recently, said on 1 November a wider base of public support was necessary to stop the increase in youth smoking.
"We will thrive to build community awareness and invite the community to join us in advocating the total ban," said Arist Merdeka Sirait, the secretary general of the National Commission for Child Protection which co-founded the alliance.
He said the community-based movement would run simultaneously with litigation efforts, including a judicial review motion against the 2003 government regulation on tobacco control to the Supreme Court. The regulation allows TV stations to air cigarette advertisements between 9:30 pm and 5 am, but rules out images and words related to cigarettes.
The Total Ban Alliance consists of 29 groups and organisations, including the Indonesian Heart Foundation, the Indonesian Cancer Foundation, the Coalition for Healthy Indonesia, the Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, and several religious organisations.
Each member will take different actions aimed at advocating a total ban on cigarette advertising and sponsorship, while expanding its network to the regional level. (sra)