Woman in solitary protest against smoking

A WOMAN yesterday started demonstrating outside the House of Representatives, warning she would go on hunger strike if the law prohibiting smoking in public places was not put into practice.

Andri Olympiou has quit her managerial position at an offshore company because she could not stand her colleges smoking in the office.

"I have had enough with laws that existing on paper without being respected by the very people who have voted for them. With a struggle we must make things right. How can a law protect non-smokers from passive smoking and at the same time public places be as smoky as they are? Why do people have to put up with rooms full of smoke at work? It’s unfair. We do not want to ruin our relationships with our colleges nor deprive them of the right to smoke. But we must defend our right to be healthy," she said.

Olympiou added said was determinate to fight a legal battle, as far as the European Court of Human Rights if necessary, to ensure the implementation of the anti-smoking law.

She has already sent her demands to the Minister of Health, to various deputies, to the Attorney-general and to women’s organisations.

Olympiou says she is determined to stay outside the House, moving on to a hunger strike if necessary, until the law becomes practice.

Last week, Health Minister Frixos Savvides told a news conference that although the maximum penalty for smoking in public places was £500, fines were often much lower, if the cases ever came to court. The minister said it was essential to protect non-smokers from passive smoking, adding four million people died in the world from smoking every year.

The Ecological and Environmental Movement is backing Olympiou’s efforts.

"We think she is doing the right thing and should go after her rights. The law should be put into practice," they said.