Low taxes and lax laws have turned Indonesia into the third largest market for tobacco products in the world. Targeted by the industry’s relentless marketing, Indonesians start young and die young.

"If I’d known I’d get this disease I would have quit a long time ago." Ujang has terminal lung cancer. At 45, he is the victim of a habit, which is killing millions in his country. Most Indonesians don’t believe that smoking is bad for their health and the industry shamelessly cashes in on their ignorance. "Indonesia is a rogue state when it comes to tobacco control", explains David Stanford of Indonesia’s Consumers Federation. Low taxes keep cigarettes cheap while aggressive marketing portrays smoking as cool. At a rock festival - advertisements are everywhere and free cigarettes handed out to teenagers. Health campaigners denounce the usual suspects: "Philip Morris is continuing to target youth in Indonesia." And as always, the industry is unrepentant.

ABC Australia