Papua's provincial legislative council has decided to postpone the endorsement of its HIV/AIDS Handling bylaw after the provincial administration deemed it would violate human rights.
The Council wanted to introduce the preventative measures, including using microchips, to stop the spread of the disease in Papua which accounts for a reported 47 percent of Indonesia's HIV/AIDS cases.
The council's deputy speaker told The Jakarta Post, that the legislative and executive branches had different perceptions on the use of microchips for people with HIV/AIDS.
Komarudin Watubun says the executive sees it as violating human rights, while the council views it as an effort to build awareness within society.
Mr Watubun also added that several NGOs working on HIV/AIDS and women's issues have also expressed strong opposition to the draft bylaw.
Because of this deadlock, he went on, the provincial administration and the legislature might agree to strike the controversial microchip article from the draft, following widespread public rejection of the article.
He says if the public cannot or will not accept the article, the council cannot force its will.
Komarudin Watubun says the draft bylaw will only be passed when the administration, legislature and NGOs agree on it.
