An Open Letter concerning the KERALA discrimation against HIV infected siblings

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

WE in Australia support of the Director of the local voluntary organisation at

Kannur, Jeevana Samskriti and J. J. Pallath, in regard to rejection of the

conditional admission of two HIV infected children - Akshara, and her brother

Ananthu, - into the Swamy Narayana Lower Primary School at Kottiyoor, near

Kannur.

We also endorse the most recent posting from the Freedom Foundation

addressed to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Kerala State

that also condemns this denial of basic rights.

This Open Letter is also directed particularly to all civic and cultural

leaders as well as all parties and officials from the Kerala State AIDS Control

Society and Health and Education Departments.

It is in India's national interest to ensure that HIV infected children (and

adults for that matter) are not treated like outcasts. It is indeed both

" inhuman and shameful " for the people of Kerala to insist on HIV infected

children being separated from other children at their school as is proposed, and

to have a specific teacher and not be allowed to write their examinations in the

school.

They would not be the actions of the India that is presently regarded and

respected in the global community.

Children are the best ambassadors in all efforts to turn around attitudes of

stigma and discrimination as we have proved in a number of nations. We in

Australia too have also been guilty of such discrimination and are ashamed of

it, and we are learning from those lessons.

In Australia almost 20 years ago, a young girl, Eve van Grafhorst, was treated

appallingly, spat upon and discriminated against - she and her family; also the

young boy White in the United States, who was later to count five former

American Presidents among his friends; and South Africa's young hero, Nkosi

, all faced and fought stigma and discrimination in the cause of both

tolerance and hope.

In recent times, we were in touch with President Kalam on behalf of two other

young HIV infected siblings in India, Bency and Benson, and he kindly sent us a

photograph of himself meeting with them, openly and strongly expressing his

support for the vital values of acceptance and tolerance.

We proudly exhibit that on our website at http://www.aids.net.au in our Schools

AIDS Day section.

Can we be assured that the lives of Bency and Benson have not been allowed to

return to the shadows of discrimination?

The world anguishes with India as her HIV infections spiral to the five million

mark. Please take these children to your heart -and their families - and put a

needless fear behind you. The world looks to you for that.

Haill,

President,

The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,

Melbourne, Australia

Email: bhaill@...