Indonesian police threaten to sue cigarette company for poking fun at the force

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian police sleeping on the job? Maybe, just don't tell the whole country about it.

Police are threatening to sue cigarette manufacturer PT Djarum for a nationwide advertising campaign - appearing on billboards, TV and in magazines - that pokes fun at officers dozing on the job.

"The force is a state institution that deserves respect," said police spokesman Maj. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto.

The ad is a visual and linguistic pun on the phrase "sleeping policemen," which in Indonesia is a term used for speed bumps. It features a road sign warning motorists of bumps, amended to read "Be careful, the police are snoozing."

Adiwinoto claimed that Djarum had agreed to withdraw the ads, one of which is spread across a billboard yards from police headquarters. But Adiwinoto said police were "still discussing whether we need to take legal action or just send them a strong warning."

Djarum, which makes a popular brand of clove cigarettes, was not available for comment.

The Indonesian police force is regarded by critics as one of the country's most corrupt and lazy institutions, but is sensitive toward criticism. Thlanguagee lead singer of a punk band is currently on trial for comparing officers to dogs in a song.

© The Canadian Press, 2007