AIDS Activists Arrested at Denpasar Airport Australia for 720 Carry Condoms

AIDS Activists Arrested at Denpasar Airport Australia for 720 Carry Condoms

News Update-BALI Council chief AIDS and Hepatitis Northern Territory of Australia (NTAHC) said he was frightened and shocked after being arrested at Ngurah Rai Airport for bringing hundreds of condoms to Indonesia.

NTAHC executive director, Kim Gates, said the incident occurred earlier this month occurred when he tried to take 720 condoms for an HIV organization in Bali.

At Denpasar Airport, local officers detained him and confiscated hundreds of condoms.

"I never travel with a condom before, so I was really very surprised. I was a little bit scared. I do not know what happened," he said.

Kim said the officer asked if he had permission for hundreds of condoms and said he did not report them on his arrival card.

"Then they told me that in fact it was in the category of pornographic material, which of course I do not think that happened," kemukanya.

Kim said it is important for partner institutions in Bali NTAHC receive condoms for countries like Indonesia have a high HIV rate.

"We know that many Australians go there for vacation and here in the Northern Territory of Australia, we see a lot of new HIV cases coming from abroad," the north.

.Problems are not limited to sex workers

Kim said the data indicated that about 1 out of 4 sex workers in Indonesia affected by HIV.

"But the number of HIV patients in the overall population -not just so high among gay men and sex workers kinds, but heterosexuals are also affected," he said.

Kim said, the important thing for Australia to condoms freely available in Bali because of the number of Australian men who went there and dealing with sex workers.

He added that many of the new HIV cases were recorded in northern Australia have occurred among heterosexual citizens.

"We really want people to be smart when they go abroad and on holiday. Bring your own condoms. Maybe do not take everything but enough for personal use," the north.

Although Kim was finally released, it remains confiscated hundreds of condoms.

Consul Sector Information, Social and Culture at the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin, Ardian Nugroho, said the seizure of condoms could be for officials to think if Kim trying to sell them.

Ardian said the consulate was willing to issue a statement on the condition that Australian citizens who need to show this to the immigration authorities to avoid problems when they arrive in Indonesian.(N/U)