TABINFO ASIA
Protesters vent anger at tobacco exposition
- Published: 12/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Police and security guards have turned out in numbers to keep hundreds of anti-smoking activists at bay while protesting outside Tabinfo Asia 2009 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
The tobacco industry's first major international exposition in years has drawn up to 3,000 participants from around the world. But it has also drawn widespread condemnation for promoting smoking in Asia.
About 650 people representing students, media professionals, academics and non-governmental organisations gathered outside the exposition in protest against its being held in Thailand.
They shouted "We don't want Tabinfo" and held placards with messages including "Stop Tabinfo" and "Stop the Merchandise of Death".
"Tabinfo Asia 2009 is a signal for the international community to understand that the tobacco industry will not stop brainstorming new strategies to lure new smokers, particularly youths and women," said Prakit Vathesatogkit, executive secretary of Action on Smoking and Health Foundation (ASH Thailand).
Dr Prakit praised Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit for not attending the opening ceremony and replacing the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly's booth with spa and tourism promotion for the Unseen Thailand campaign.
The government is obliged to abide by the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which bans all activities and funding support from the tobacco industry such as scholarships and sports events for state agencies.
"Tobacco marketing strategies are very diverse and will more or less affect us because we're their major target," said Chatchai Chanwibulsri from the Federation of Pharmaceutical Sciences Students of Thailand.
He said the federation joined the protest to make it clear Thai youth did not want the tobacco trade exhibition.
Churit Tengtrisorn, deputy director of the Public Health Ministry's Office of the Tobacco Control Committee, said the exposition would be closely monitored for violations of the 1992 Tobacco Products Control Act, which controls the advertising and marketing of tobacco products, and the 1992 Non-Smokers' Health Protection Act, which regulates exposure to tobacco smoke.
An organiser said a lot of hard work had gone into the event and some exhibitors, delegates and visitors had booked space four years in advance.
The exposition will focus on new cigarette packets using technological innovations to survive tobacco controls.
"Every new pack presents an opportunity for new creativity, new challenges and of course new problems to overcome," according to publicity material from the event organiser, Tobacco Reporter magazine.
Delegates will also discuss new products such as vitamin-enriched and organic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and how to use the internet to market brands to young smokers.
About the author
- Writer: Post Reporters
- Position: Reporters
