Access for all? Activists are scoffing at the lip service being paid to the theme of the ongoing 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok.

"The conference theme is not true right now," said Kamol Upakeaw representing the Thai Network People Living with HIV/Aids, which claims to represent 50,000 people.

"A lot of people are not receiving vital treatment. For instance, sex workers, migrant workers and injecting drug users (IDUs) are not getting treatment or information for prevention. If it (the theme) is going to be true, there needs to be a real change in policy."

In developed countries, access to ARV drugs and combination therapy has meant that Aids need no longer be viewed as a death sentence. In the developing world, however, only 7 percent of people living with HIV/Aids can afford treatment.

Even after the fourfold reduction of ARV drug costs since 2000 - ranging from RM120 to RM3,000 per month - the standard treatment for Aids is still beyond the means of most people living with HIV in developing countries.

On Sunday, when six-day conference was opened, Kamol led 1,000 local and international activists to the main venue to highlight the unequal access to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

They carried banners urging distribution of free condoms, generic drugs, clean needles and 'medication for all nations'.

Speaker 'downgraded'

The conference, which has brought together 20,000 people involving the scientific community, activists, world leaders, bureaucrats and celebrities including actor Richard Gere, aims to address the urgency of access to HIV/Aids research, prevention, treatment and resources by all people.

However, activists have been critical of what they see to be flaws in claims being made, as well as the organisation of the conference.

In his opening address, Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra said his government was committed to making ARV drugs free to at least 50,000 Thais living with HIV/Aids.

However, he was heckled midway into his speech when certain sections of the audience held up posters saying 'No More Lies' and a banner with the words 'Thaksin lies'.

Activists were incensed when a last-minute change in the programme placed former drug-user and HIV-positive Paisan Suwannawong as the last speaker, after the close of the ceremony was symbolised by the lighting of a candle.

UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and Thaksin had already left the hall, when it was Paisan's turn - he spoke to a near-empty hall.

Thai Drug Users Network chairman Paisan said IDUs are the only group whose 50 percent HIV prevalence has not changed in 15 years.

"One third of all new HIV infections are IDU-related, and this number is increasing. Yet there has been no effective response from the government," he said.

'Too expensive'

The following day, the Global Network of People Living with HIV/Aids (GNP+) issued a statement condemning the disrespect and disregard for HIV-positive speakers.

"This ceremony - in the context of a 20-year old epidemic currently affecting 40 million people - failed to give opportunity for the single HIV-positive speaker on the programme to be heard by the delegates and to receive deserving media converage," it declared.

Commenting on the issue of accessibility, Malaysian AIDS Council president Marina Mahathir said the exorbitant conference fee (US$800-1,200) meant that thousands of people could not attend the conference.

"It is unfortunate that even though the conference is being held in Asia, so many people in the region who can actually afford to travel to Bangkok still cannot attend it, only because the fees are so high," she noted.

The organisers, the Stockholm-based International Aids Society and the Thai government, said in a joint statement that one out of four delegates were on some form of sponsorship from the organisers.

At least 21 percent of the funds had been awarded to people living with HIV/Aids, while almost two-thirds of the sponsorship were for Thai participants, they said.

ONG JU LYNN is reporting on the conference from Bangkok for malaysiakini .