'Kupu-Kupu AIDS' allows exploration of sensitive issues
'Kupu-Kupu AIDS' allows exploration of sensitive issues
By Dini S. Djalal
JAKARTA (JP): "You can't talk about AIDS without talking about
sex," insisted Ministry of Health official Bagus Mantra at Kupu-
Kupu AIDS, a seminar on AIDS held at Kedai Kancil, Summitmas
Tower 1 in South Jakarta.
Mantra's statement was firm in a conservative environment.
Yet, data on HIV and AIDS in March 1995, reported cases reach
288, with 218 HIV diagnoses and 70 AIDS patients throughout
Indonesia. At this rate, firm words are needed to combat the
onslaught of AIDS.
The need for discussion and understanding of AIDS is what
inspired non-governmental organization MITRA Indonesia and Kedai
Kancil to hold Kupu-Kupu AIDS every Thursday until May 18.
"Kupu-kupu (butterfly) flies from one flower to another, just
like the AIDS virus. But Kupu-Kupu AIDS is a metaphor not only
for the dissemination of the AIDS virus, but also of knowledge.
We want to spread as much accurate information on AIDS as
possible," said MITRA volunteer Danny Yatim.
When asked why Kupu-Kupu AIDS is being held at Kedai Kancil, a
cafeteria, Yatim explained, "But it's public. People come here to
eat, not to see a show, so we will be exposed to a bigger
audience." The choice of speakers was also meant to represent the
wider public.
"We asked movie stars and singers to attract the masses. But
our biggest priority was choosing people who were concerned, and
not necessarily experts," said Yatim.
The seminars have been divided into four themes. The first,
held on April 27, focused on the role of the mass media,
particularly on its responsibility to publish accurate
information on AIDS.
Working with Yogyakarta's Research and Education Center LP3Y
and the Lentera Foundation, Rosalia Sciortino of the Ford
Foundation is establishing an AIDS Media Training Center to
improve the quality of AIDS reporting.
"Stereotypical or inaccurate stories can increase
discrimination against AIDS sufferers," Sciortino explained.
The media is also the most accessible channel through which
AIDS education may be taught.
"We're not focusing on the media, but on how the media can
increase public awareness," Sciortino elaborated.
But has public awareness improved since Pekan Peduli AIDS
(AIDS Awareness Week), was held in December 1994? Danny Yatim
answered, "Awareness is so difficult to measure. If you only look
at the amount of phone calls MITRA Indonesia receive, they always
escalate during news events, such as Greg Lougani's outing. But
that doesn't mean we should stop trying."
Attempts at raising public awareness about AIDS, however,
always run into conflict with mainstream notions of sexuality.
Radio station KIS-FM attracted controversy when, during a talk-
show, they discussed oral and penetrative sex. KIS-FM manager
Erfin Rasad explained that they were not promoting free sex, but,
"differentiating between safe sex and safer sex."
"Many youths do not receive sex information from their
parents, so they seek it elsewhere. We believe that if you're
going to do it, you should do it safely," Rasad continued.
Bagus Mantra agrees.
"Teenagers are very dynamic. They require lots of education on
everything, including sex. If they can't get it formally, they
will find it through other channels, such as foreign films and
television shows," said Mantra.
Rosalia Sciortino concedes that the cultural divide between
open-minded teenagers and their more conservative parents is
problematic. She adds that the dilemma is enhanced by occasional
government reluctance to publicly endorse sexuality and condoms.
"Studies on sexuality are sometimes not acknowledged by
government officials. Culturally it is not yet the time, but
there can still be a dialog," said Sciortino.
The effect of the AIDS epidemic on young people was the focus
of the second seminar, held on May 4. Teenage film star Deasy
Ratnasari was invited to speak at the second session, and drew
much attention. She spoke of the individuality of sexual
experiences, and the bad reputations which stars endure.
Specifically, she explained that working in the entertainment
world does not necessarily imply a morally looser lifestyle.
Loose morals are often associated with AIDS, even though it
only takes one sexual encounter to contact the disease. Yet, for
all the controversy attached to the AIDS cause, the Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) is one of MITRA Indonesia's biggest donors.
Its representatives, however, maintain that they do not condone
the promotion of condoms.
"We promote monogamy and abstinence to combat AIDS, which are
true to Catholic teaching," said CRS representative Yenni
Suryani.
Meanwhile, the entire Kedai Kancil was plastered with posters
with illustrations of condoms.
The theme of the next seminar, held this Thursday, is AIDS and
Contemporary Lifestyle, and will have at its speakers, among
others, singer Paquita Widjaya and anthropologist Jeffry Anwar.
The final seminar, to be held on Thursday May 18, is entitled
AIDS in the year 2000, and will feature model Cornelia Agatha and
photographer Yudhi Soerjoatmojo.