Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07SURABAYA46, NORTH SULAWESI: GROWING PROBLEMS IN HIV AND TRAFFICKING IN

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SURABAYA46.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SURABAYA46 2007-10-05 02:28 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Surabaya
VZCZCXRO7304
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJS #0046 2780228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050228Z OCT 07
FM AMCONSUL SURABAYA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0066
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0059
RUEHJS/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 0068
UNCLAS SURABAYA 000046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/GTIP, EAP/RSP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PHUM PGOV ELAB KWMN SMIG ID
SUBJECT: NORTH SULAWESI: GROWING PROBLEMS IN HIV AND TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS 
 
 
This message is sensitive, but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: The head of a local NGO in Manado described 
the growing problem of HIV and trafficking in women during 
Surabaya Principal Officer's recent visit.  In a city that 
prides itself on beginning strongly Christian, prostitution has 
been forced further underground, making monitoring the incidence 
of HIV difficult.  Trafficking volume has increased in recent 
months for reasons that remain unclear.  Local officials, 
however, turn a blind eye to the problem, despite sufficient 
anti-trafficking legislation.  End Summary. 
 
HIV 
---- 
 
2. (SBU) During a September 25-27 trip to Manado, North 
Sulawesi, Surabaya Principal Officer met with Dr. Jane 
Pangemanan, Director of "Sahabat Perempuan," a local NGO 
dedicated to improving the health of women and children in the 
province.  Established in 1999 by women activists in Manado to 
mitigate the increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS in the region, 
Sahabat Perempuan has since expanded its activities to include 
combating trafficking in persons.  According to Dr. Pangemanan, 
there are at least known 1,890 HIV cases in North Sulawesi, but 
the provincial government has little interest in the issue. 
 
3. (SBU) Unlike other urban areas, where prostitutes ply their 
trade in concentrated areas of town, Manado prostitutes are 
working in individual areas scattered throughout the area.  Dr. 
Pangemanan explained that local officials want to promote 
Manado's reputation as a religious, Christian city.  Obvious 
prostitution would undermine that image.  As a result of local 
government regulation and enforcement, prostitution is forced 
further underground, making it more difficult for NGOs to 
monitor the spread of HIV and provide education about the 
dangers. 
 
GROWING TIP PROBLEM 
---------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) According to Dr. Pangemanan, the volume of trafficking 
has increased dramatically since January.  Previously, every 
month, two girls from North Sulawesi were trafficked to Papua, 
Jakarta, Batam (then to Singapore), Kalimantan, Malaysia and 
Japan; now it is more like two girls per week.  According to 
Sahabat Perempuan's data, between January and September 2007, 80 
girls had been trafficked.  Dr. Pangemanan offered no specific 
insights into why the volume of trafficking was increasing, 
other than to note that Manado girls were considered very 
desirable in other parts of Southeast Asia.  She added that 
while economic growth continued, the number of poor was also 
increasing. 
 
5. (SBU) Dr. Pangemanan explained that North Sulawesi has strong 
anti-trafficking laws, but enforcement is non-existent because 
local MPs and the Governor are only interested in issues that 
earn money.   She criticized the current governor for ignoring 
the problems of HIV and trafficking, commenting that he spent 
too much time preparing for Manado to host a World Oceans 
Conference in 2009 to worry about local issues.  The previous 
governor and his wife, she said, had been serious in their 
approach to these issues. 
 
MCCLELLAND