An Open Letter to the President of India: Death by stoning of an HIV-infected woman

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An Open Letter to the President of India.

(By e-mail:presidentofindia@...)

Dear Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,

I write to draw your attention to the Internet posting of July

8,2003, which reports the death by stoning of an HIV-infected woman in Andhra

Pradesh on July 4,2003.

Such an appalling act must not be allowed to go unreported in the India mass

media or without condemnation by an internationally respected leader such as

yourself.

We were recently encouraged in an interchange of correspondence with you

concerning discrimination against two siblings in Kerala State who were denied

normal schooling in which they could interact with other children.

We felt we had caught your ear.

We ask,Dr Kalam that you offer your assurance to the people of India that such a

hideous response to the presence of HIV/AIDS among your people must never be

repeated and we ask for your comfort for the family of the woman involved and

the wide publication of this appalling event as part of your national response

to the AIDS pandemic.

I have also included herein the content of my correspondence as sent to the

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Sri.N.Chandrababu aidu,

Chief Minister,

Andhra Pradesh,

India.

July 9,2003

Dear Chief Minister,

As the President of The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated...an AIDS-care agency

of some 17 years standing within the Australian community, I write to express

our revulsion and outrage at the posting dated July 8,2003,which

reports the stoning to death of an HIV infected woman at Kuppam in the Chittoor

District on July 4,2003.

Such a horror is not acceptable in any society in the world and must be

condemned in the strongest possible and public manner.

For India itself,struggling to get to grips with its huge HIV infection rates,

this dreadful act will do nothing to do away with the ignorance and fear

associated with HIV/AIDS and which must be confronted head-on for the sake of

India's future.

We intend to carry details of this matter on our website and we would also like

to carry your response as well which we hope will include a declaration of shame

and a determination to more vigorously pursue HIV/AIDS Awareness policies that

you may have in place.

The Australian people, as well as all other nations,must look to you for this

public declaration.....as will all of your own people.

Haill,

President,

The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,

Melbourne,Australia

Email: bhaill@...

Website: www.aids.net.au