Beware of medical technology abuse: Defense minister

Beware of medical technology abuse: Defense minister

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Edi
Sudradjat warns Indonesia against potential abuse of medical
technology as weapons for destruction.

Considering the rapid advancement in genetics engineering
techniques, "it's possible that people might want to develop
virus which can weaken the human resources of a nation," he told
a workshop on abuse of medical technology here yesterday.

"Given the history of technology inventions which ended up as
means for destruction, we are not exaggerating if we keep vigil
over such development," he told some 200 participants.

"Remember the invention of atomic energy which resulted in the
creation of atomic and nuclear bombs which can destroy the world
within a blink of the eye," he said.

People start abusing technology to out-compete other groups of
people when they no longer see it as mere means to enhance their
life. Instead, they let technology become "an attitude" of life
which controls them, he said.

As befitting competitions, people use technology for either
defensive and offensive purposes, he said.

"The computer virus that people developed to destroy
information system can be seen as an offensive measure," he said.

"All of the competing parties are aware that human resource is
a nation's major power source, which is why we have to pay
careful attention towards such offensive measures," he said.

The three-day workshop held in the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital
explored the relation of security and defense affairs with
biotechnology advancement.

Most speakers expressed the same concern over possible
creation of new biological weapons which can be used against
unprotected or partially protected powers.

Even the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) -- which leads to
the killer Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) -- can be
abused to launch attack against certain targets, according to a
speaker.

Dr. R. Sjamsuhidajat, a professor at the University of
Indonesia's Medical School, seconded Edi's warnings. He said
there are three major players in the world competition today;
namely those who hold the power of violence, those with the power
of wealth, and the holders of power of knowledge.

"The first two power groups will definitely strive to use
scientists and professional groups, as the holders of the power
of knowledge, to achieve their ambitions," he said.

He linked abuse of technology, including biotechnology, with
the first power group. "Researches on microbiology and virology,
toxic materials and nuclear can be used for dangerous purposes,"
he said. "And if used in warfare, they will be able to destruct
or annihilate a whole civilization."

The need for vigilance is even more marked considering the
fact that Indonesia has yet to advance from its current status of
technology consumer to technology producer, according to a
speaker.

"Indonesia is still in the early stage of technology
development, which means that it is only able to transfer and use
existing technologies to produce services or goods which we have
already known," according to Dr. M. Jusuf Hanafiah, rector of the
University of North Sumatra.

"We have yet to reach the stage where we can create new things
or services, much less new development of technology and medical
sciences," he concluded.

Other speakers in yesterday's workshop were three experts from
the United States, Dr. Ernest Takafuji, Dr. James Burans and Dr.
Allen Richards, who discussed the growing concern among
international military circles of possible use of biotechnology
advancement as weapons in warfare.

"Biotechnology advancement has created a fresh concern for us,
and that is the possible creation of new biological weapons,"
said Col. Takafuji of the Medical Corps. "The theoretical
possibilities (for people to produce) new virulent factors has
also created apprehension."

In 1972, Indonesia signed the International Biological Weapons
Convention and ratified it in 1991. According to Isroil
Samihardjo from the Ministry of Defense and Security, Indonesia's
position in the convention has become even more significant due
to its current leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement.

"As NAM representative, Indonesia should accommodate the
interests of its member countries (who are wary of potential
abuse of technology)," Isroil said. "On the other hand, various
conventions of experts of biological weapons clearly revealed
that it is often the interests of the developed countries which
dominate such discourses." (swe)