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)