Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia, Inc. - 27 Oct 1995
"They're the ones who are missing out. We've been all around the world. You name it, we've been there," he told a Manila news conference.
"The fans in those countries will miss out a lot," he said, singling out Indonesia and Taiwan.
Taiwan earlier this month refused to relax a ban on visits by HIV-positive people for Johnson, who usually combines exhibition games with AIDS awareness messages on his travels.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can lead to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
Indonesia's Immigration Department denied Johnson a visa in January 1994 after heated public debate. An immigration spokesman said in Jakarta Friday they have since received no fresh request from the national sports committee for a visa.
The Jakarta Post reported in April that a planned June visit was postponed as Johnson had other engagements.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star stressed that having the HIV, diagnosed for him in 1991, had not drastically changed his life.
"I still hug my father. I still lift weights. It hasn't affected my game. I've helped the cause (of AIDS awareness) a lot," he said.
Johnson is to play one exhibition game Saturday during his visit to the Philippines, where basketball is a near obsession.
The Philippines has recorded 221 people with the HIV virus, of whom 108 have died after developing AIDS, according to official figures.
Government scientists believe the real figure is many times greater but say there is widespread under-reporting of the problem.
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