AIDS patient free to marry

AIDS patient free to marry

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Legal expert Anwar Saleh of
Tanjungpura University said the law guarantees people with HIV or
AIDS the right to marry and fulfill their "life's demands".

"The law protects people's basic rights, in this case the
right to marry," he was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.

He was commenting on the recent report of the plans of a woman
who tested positive for the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus, which
can lead to the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, to get
married to a non-HIV carrier. The report drew many reactions,
including from Minister of Health Sujudi, who suggested that the
couple not have children.

"There's no legal basis to prohibit the couple from marrying
or having children," he said. "The community doesn't have the
right to ostracize people with AIDS."

"What's important is that people with HIV or AIDS, and the
community, are aware of the danger of the disease," he said.

In Jayapura, Irian Jaya, anti-AIDS campaigner Dr. Nafsiah Mboi
called on the government to send home any Thai fishermen found to
be have the HIV or AIDS.

Since 1992, dozens of Thai fishermen suffering from HIV or
full-blown AIDS have been discovered in Indonesia. (swe)