'Kupu-Kupu AIDS' allows exploration of sensitive issues<\/p>\n
By Dini S. Djalal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"You can't talk about AIDS without talking about
\nsex,\" insisted Ministry of Health official Bagus Mantra at Kupu-
\nKupu AIDS, a seminar on AIDS held at Kedai Kancil, Summitmas
\nTower 1 in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Mantra's statement was firm in a conservative environment.
\nYet, data on HIV and AIDS in March 1995, reported cases reach
\n288, with 218 HIV diagnoses and 70 AIDS patients throughout
\nIndonesia. At this rate, firm words are needed to combat the
\nonslaught of AIDS.<\/p>\n
The need for discussion and understanding of AIDS is what
\ninspired non-governmental organization MITRA Indonesia and Kedai
\nKancil to hold Kupu-Kupu AIDS every Thursday until May 18.<\/p>\n
\"Kupu-kupu (butterfly) flies from one flower to another, just
\nlike the AIDS virus. But Kupu-Kupu AIDS is a metaphor not only
\nfor the dissemination of the AIDS virus, but also of knowledge.
\nWe want to spread as much accurate information on AIDS as
\npossible,\" said MITRA volunteer Danny Yatim.<\/p>\n
When asked why Kupu-Kupu AIDS is being held at Kedai Kancil, a
\ncafeteria, Yatim explained, \"But it's public. People come here to
\neat, not to see a show, so we will be exposed to a bigger
\naudience.\" The choice of speakers was also meant to represent the
\nwider public.<\/p>\n
\"We asked movie stars and singers to attract the masses. But
\nour biggest priority was choosing people who were concerned, and
\nnot necessarily experts,\" said Yatim.<\/p>\n
The seminars have been divided into four themes. The first,
\nheld on April 27, focused on the role of the mass media,
\nparticularly on its responsibility to publish accurate
\ninformation on AIDS.<\/p>\n
Working with Yogyakarta's Research and Education Center LP3Y
\nand the Lentera Foundation, Rosalia Sciortino of the Ford
\nFoundation is establishing an AIDS Media Training Center to
\nimprove the quality of AIDS reporting.<\/p>\n
\"Stereotypical or inaccurate stories can increase
\ndiscrimination against AIDS sufferers,\" Sciortino explained.<\/p>\n
The media is also the most accessible channel through which
\nAIDS education may be taught.<\/p>\n
\"We're not focusing on the media, but on how the media can
\nincrease public awareness,\" Sciortino elaborated.<\/p>\n
But has public awareness improved since Pekan Peduli AIDS
\n(AIDS Awareness Week), was held in December 1994? Danny Yatim
\nanswered, \"Awareness is so difficult to measure. If you only look
\nat the amount of phone calls MITRA Indonesia receive, they always
\nescalate during news events, such as Greg Lougani's outing. But
\nthat doesn't mean we should stop trying.\"<\/p>\n
Attempts at raising public awareness about AIDS, however,
\nalways run into conflict with mainstream notions of sexuality.
\nRadio station KIS-FM attracted controversy when, during a talk-
\nshow, they discussed oral and penetrative sex. KIS-FM manager
\nErfin Rasad explained that they were not promoting free sex, but,
\n\"differentiating between safe sex and safer sex.\"<\/p>\n
\"Many youths do not receive sex information from their
\nparents, so they seek it elsewhere. We believe that if you're
\ngoing to do it, you should do it safely,\" Rasad continued.<\/p>\n
Bagus Mantra agrees.<\/p>\n
\"Teenagers are very dynamic. They require lots of education on
\neverything, including sex. If they can't get it formally, they
\nwill find it through other channels, such as foreign films and
\ntelevision shows,\" said Mantra.<\/p>\n
Rosalia Sciortino concedes that the cultural divide between
\nopen-minded teenagers and their more conservative parents is
\nproblematic. She adds that the dilemma is enhanced by occasional
\ngovernment reluctance to publicly endorse sexuality and condoms.<\/p>\n
\"Studies on sexuality are sometimes not acknowledged by
\ngovernment officials. Culturally it is not yet the time, but
\nthere can still be a dialog,\" said Sciortino.<\/p>\n
The effect of the AIDS epidemic on young people was the focus
\nof the second seminar, held on May 4. Teenage film star Deasy
\nRatnasari was invited to speak at the second session, and drew
\nmuch attention. She spoke of the individuality of sexual
\nexperiences, and the bad reputations which stars endure.
\nSpecifically, she explained that working in the entertainment
\nworld does not necessarily imply a morally looser lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Loose morals are often associated with AIDS, even though it
\nonly takes one sexual encounter to contact the disease. Yet, for
\nall the controversy attached to the AIDS cause, the Catholic
\nRelief Services (CRS) is one of MITRA Indonesia's biggest donors.
\nIts representatives, however, maintain that they do not condone
\nthe promotion of condoms.<\/p>\n
\"We promote monogamy and abstinence to combat AIDS, which are
\ntrue to Catholic teaching,\" said CRS representative Yenni
\nSuryani.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the entire Kedai Kancil was plastered with posters
\nwith illustrations of condoms.<\/p>\n
The theme of the next seminar, held this Thursday, is AIDS and
\nContemporary Lifestyle, and will have at its speakers, among
\nothers, singer Paquita Widjaya and anthropologist Jeffry Anwar.
\nThe final seminar, to be held on Thursday May 18, is entitled
\nAIDS in the year 2000, and will feature model Cornelia Agatha and
\nphotographer Yudhi Soerjoatmojo.<\/p>",
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