This article is more than 11 years old

This article is more than 11 years old

Some carriers of HIV would be implanted with microchips under a bill backed by legislators in the Indonesian province of Papua.

John Manangsang, a Papua MP, said that by implanting computer chips beneath the skin of "sexually aggressive" patients authorities would be in a better position to identify, track and punish anyone who deliberately infected others. Those convicted could face up to six months in jail or a £3,340 fine.

The proposed legislation has received backing from the provincial parliament and a majority vote is expected. If approved it would be enacted next month, Manangsang said.

Under the bill, a committee would decide who should be fitted with chips and monitor patients' behaviour, but it is unclear who would be on the committtee and how it would carry out its work.

Health workers and rights activists today criticised the plan. Nancy Fee, the UNAids country coordinator for Indonesia, said she was not aware of any laws or initiatives elsewhere involving HIV/Aids patients and microchips, and expressed "grave concerns" about the effect it would have.

"No one should be subject to unlawful or unnecessary interference of privacy," Fee said. She warned that oppressive policies on HIV/Aids didn't work and pushed the problem further underground.

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and has one of Asia's fastest growing HIV rates, with up to 290,000 infections out of 235 million people, fuelled mainly by intravenous drug users and prostitution.

Papua, the country's easternmost and poorest province, has almost 61 cases per 100,000 people, which is 15 times the national average, according to internationally funded research.

Tahi Ganyang Butarbutar, a prominent Papuan activist, said: "People with Aids aren't animals; we have to respect their rights."

He said the best way to tackle the disease was through increased spending on sexual education and promoting condom use.