Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - June 16, 2002
Yuthapong Kamnodnae
With resistance from 86 villagers, five HIV-infected girls were kicked out of Ban Khao Sarn School three days after they arrived there earlier this month.
The youngsters were sent back to an orphanage after villagers submitted a protest letter to Non Sung tambon administration organisation (TAO), demanding their ouster from the community.
Earlier, leaflets were also distributed among the villagers, urging them not to welcome the HIV-infected children.
The villagers fear the young Aids victims could spread the virus to their children through physical contact, and even mosquito bites.
The villagers also ordered their children not to attend any classes if HIV-positive children were present.
Wichai Kruaysawat, headmaster of Ban Khao Sarn School, said the school had no choice but to reverse its decision to accept them in Prathom 1, despite knowing that it would violate the children's constitutional rights.
"I pleaded to the locals for understanding but they still refused to let their children attend school. I don't understand why they are so afraid of children from the orphanage when their own village children also have Aids," he said.
A committee was set up by the provincial primary education office to look into the matter on the governor's orders.
It was reported the five children were told lies so they would not be upset for being rejected by the school.
Seven-year-old Wanpen, one of the unlucky five, said she and her friends were told by the head of the Northeastern Welfare Centre for Girls that they had to stop going to school because they had no red gym uniforms like other students at Ban Khao Sarn School.
"Mum (the orphanage head) also said that I would go to school in Nong Khai next week with Kao and Jay," she said shyly. "I want to be a doctor when I grow up."
The girl was brought to the orphanage at the age of two by her grandmother, after her father and mother died of Aids. With good care from doctors of Srinakarin Khon Kaen Hospital, the girl is in good health and shows no symptoms of Aids.
Achara Yodphet, head of the orphanage, said what happened to the five girls reflected the Thai system's failure to make people understand the true nature of Aids.
"We do have sympathy for the villagers. Since they know very little about the disease, you can't expect them not to fear that their children would be at risk," she said.
According to her, only 16 of the 230 youngsters at the orphanage were infected with the HIV virus transmitted by their parents.
Ms Achara said she had to lie to the five girls that they needed red gym uniforms as they were too young to cope with the disappointment of having been robbed of a chance to go to school.
Sgt Chalong Phuwisai, president of Non Sung TAO, said he had asked the school and the orphanage not to allow HIV-infected children to study at the school, after some 30 villagers had complained about the problem.
"Village elders threatened to appeal to the governor, the district chief, the district primary education office and the provincial public welfare office," he said.
Thongpoon Sotasi, 70, said he was surprised to find children with HIV were sent to school by the orphanage. "Our children don't know what's going on but their parents are very afraid. They are not willing to take any risks."
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