Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 11:07:45 +0200 From: ilga Subject: Chile: Protests - HIV Infections 3 September 1996 Dear ILGA Press Contacts and Friends, the following story was forwarded to me from: CONTACT Magazine, Hong Kong, who forwarded it on behalf of: Positive Humanists and Friends Club, San Francisco. P.O. Box 460580, San Francisco, CA 94146, USA Phone (415) 285-0606, Fax (415) 285-1918 e-mail hobiwan@a.crl.com, Chilean Government Infects People With HIV Call to Action: Chile needs bleach Please take action about this case: Forward it to all lists you know of. Below you have the story and a call to action. The story was reviewed by Tomas Hirsch President of the Humanist Party in Chile for its accuracy. August 28, 1996 Chilean Government Infects People with HIV How people were carelessly infected with HIV in Chile On August 5th in Santiago, a group of 37 Chilean prisoners were moved from one prison to another. The prison officials did this to avoid a court-ordered investigation of the atrocious living conditions of gay prisoners. The records accompanying the transfer clearly showed that 22 of the 37 had HIV. Upon arriving at the Colina prison, the men were ordered to strip and were all given the Elisa test for HIV. All the prisoners interviewed stated that the prison medic only used 10 needles for all 37 prisoners, knowingfull well that 22 were already infected with HIV. By the 8th of August, the lawyer who asked for the investigation of the conditions, Trinidad Lathrop of Centro Lambda Chile, visited some of the prisoners who told her the story. She also spoke to the medic who gave the tests, and he flatly denied the prisoners' version and stated that needles were used. The medics statements, however, were contradictory. She then asked Humanist Party President Tomas Hirsch to help in the case. After repeatedly trying to contact the Chief Medical Officer of Chilean prisons and receiving no response, Tomas Hirsch and Trinidad Lathrop decided to hold a press conference on August 11. They asked that a full investigation be made regarding the prisoners accusations. The Chilean and international press gave this news item widespread coverage including an article in the New York Times on August 13. On August 12th, an indignant National Director of the Chilean Prisons, Mr.Martinez, gave a press conference intended to show how the procedures used in Chilean prisons would not allow such gross crime. After the press conference, a lawsuit was filed against Tomas Hirsch for defamation of character. On August 13, Tomas Hirsch, Trinidad Lathrop and Roberto Pablo, President of Centro Lambda Chile visited the prisoners to obtain written testimony. They were allowed to speak to only 6 of the 37. All six gave the same testimony that only 10 needles had been used to test all 37 inmates. While they were at the prison, the chief medical officer called them. In their interview with him, they asked if an investigation had taken place. He said yes. Trinidad Lathrop asked if this "investigation" consisted solely in speaking to the medic who administered the test. Again he said yes. They asked if he had spoken to any of the prisoners. He said there was no need for that, as his eyes were there while the test was being given, and 37 needles were used. He was much more concerned with his reputation, and the reputation of the Chilean prison system, than with the accusation that 15 people were carelessly infected by a prison medic. If these accusations are true, this is a crime against humanity. Justice must be administered. This case is probably only the tip of the iceberg, regarding prisoners treatment with HIV throughout the world, and in Chile in particular. People are treated as throwaway objects. Certainly, when it comes to HIV care, many so called developing nations have the resources to provide first class medical treatment but they chose to spend those resources elsewhere. This in itself is a crime against humanity. It is time that the governments of the world end all discrimination against the people who live within their boundaries, regardless of a persons race, health, religion, economic status, HIV status or sexual preference. All people deserve to be treated with dignity. Health care and education should be the top priorities of every government. End the violence, let human reconciliation begin. ________________________________________________________ What you can do to protest the infection of 15 people by a prison medic in Chile. We ask that you do the following: 1)Immediately boycott all products produced or made in Chile. This includes wines, agricultural products, etc. 2)Buy a bottle of bleach and take it, or send it, to the Chilean consulate or embassy nearest you. If you like, organize press conferences, demonstrations, etc. Please keep us informed as to your actions. On the bottle of bleach, tape or glue the following message: _____________________ "Dear Chilean Consul (or Ambassador): Please forward this gift to the Ministry of Justice, Santiago, Chile. Sirs: I would like to donate this 59 cent bottle of bleach to you. I know that, even though Chile is considered the economic miracle of Latin America, you must have budget problems because only 10 needles were used to test 37 inmates in Colina 2 prison on August 5 in Santiago. The needles were not sterilized between uses. With a small portion of this bleach, you can now sterilize many needles and reuse them. By doing this you will prevent the spread of the HIV virus. I ask that a full investigation be made of this case by the highest authorities in Chile. I also ask that a full apology be made to Tomas Hirsch of the Humanist Party, and that the defamation of character lawsuit be dropped. Furthermore, if the accusations prove to be true, I demand that those who were carelessly infected be given the very best treatment available for the HIV virus. (Please see the American Medical Association document of July 10, 1996 "Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in 1996".) I ask that you reply to this request in writing to the address below. Sincerely, (your name and address)" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 75 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? 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