TOBACCO FARMERS REJECT MUI'S EDICT

Jember, E Java, Jan 26 (ANTARA) - Tobacco farmers in Jember district, East Java, rejected an edict of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) banning Muslims from smoking.
Chairman of the Tobacco Farmers Association in Jember, Abdurrahman expressed regret here on Monday the MUI edict banned children and expecting mothers from smoking, as well as people in public places.
"Indirectly, the edict will affect people who want to smoke," he said adding that it would also affect the income of tobacco growers.
He said that the MUI edict would not apply to smokers in Jember because the region has many tobacco growers.
"Plantations of kasturi tobacco alone cover 6,000 hectares," Abdurrahman said.
He said that the farmers would not obey the edict and would continue growing tobacco to support their families.
On the edict which bans children and pregnant women from smoking, Abdurrahman said he agreed if the religious ruling was aimed at people who may not smoke.
He said however that the edict would not change the habit of smokers.
Secretary of Jember's Tobacco Commission (KUTJ), Abdus Setiawan said meanwhile that farmers were not concerned with the issuance of the edict.
"Tobacco demand over the past five years has always been stable and it seems that it would not be affected by the edict," he said.
He said that tobacco production in Jember increased almost every year. In 2007, production stood at 14,763.18 tons and it increased to 17,032.18 tons in 2008.
The MUI issued an edict at a meeting in Padangpanjang, West Sumatra, on Sunday.
"MUI has issued an edict which states that smoking is forbidden for children, pregnant women, MUI members and for those in public places," Amin Suma, chairman of the Edict Commission of MUI said on Sunday.
He said that MUI decided in the meeting that smoking for Muslims is between 'haram' (forbidden) and 'makruh' (objectionable).