Memorial to be held for AIDS carriers

JAKARTA (JP): Anti-AIDS campaigners in 29 cities in Indonesia's 18 provinces will hold a candlelight memorial for people with AIDS or HIV on May 19.

The same event will also be held in 300 cities in 50 other countries as a memorial for the millions of people who have died of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and for those who are still alive.

The annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization was first started in 1984, as a way to increase public awareness of the disease, but Indonesia has only decided to join in this year.

"It's about time Indonesia joined the drive. Raising public awareness of the disease is not an easy undertaking," said Nafsiah Mboi, a legislator and AIDS activist, during a press briefing here yesterday.

The national total now stands at 390 people with HIV or AIDS: 95 with AIDS (59 of whom have died), and 295 who are HIV- positive. Jakarta still tops the list with 137 HIV and AIDS carriers, Irian Jaya is second with 102, Bali and East Java each have 33 and Riau has 29.

The theme for the international memorial is "AIDS Discrimination is a Global Endemic", whereas the local theme is "Together to Build Hope."

An organizer of the event, Baby Jim Aditya, said the issue of discrimination against people with AIDS may not be topical yet.

"We chose a different theme, one which is more relevant here, because we associate 'candles' with 'hope' for people with AIDS," Baby told The Jakarta Post.

In Jakarta, more than 1,000 people are expected to attend the free event at Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center. Jakarta's Governor Surjadi Soedirdja is scheduled to open it at 6.30 p.m.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, assistant to Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare's Suyono Yahya and a number of public figures will also attend the commemoration.

The participants will light candles, pray for people with HIV and AIDS and then sing Lilin-lilin Kecil (Little Candles), a famous song written by James F. Sundah.

A number of other activities to increase awareness of AIDS are also planned, including poetry reading, art performances, and painting and photographic exhibitions. Books and souvenirs will also be sold to the public.(31)