Condom debate rages in Samarinda

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The local family planning agency is opposed to a proposal by the Moslem Ulemas Council (MUI) to confine sales of condoms to drugstores and to limit their use to married couples who have a doctor's prescription.

The agency's chief, Amran Harahap, argues that the council's proposal is unacceptable because condoms are a "free" commodity which has no negative impact on health and therefore their sales cannot be restricted like those of dangerous drugs.

"If they worry about abuse of condoms, then what needs to be done is strengthening people's faith in God," he told Antara yesterday.

MUI chairman Hasan Basri made the appeal in an ulemas meeting in Samarinda last week. He argued that the widespread sale of condoms could encourage people to "misuse" them for extra-marital sex.

Basri also reiterated that the council is opposed to the open encouragement of use of condoms in safe-sex campaigns, saying that it would mean endorsing prostitution.

Amran said that in its national family planning drive, his agency distributes condoms through doctors, nurses and hospitals but has no authority to ban kiosks and shops from selling them freely to the public. (pan)