Jakarta – Activists believe the use of condoms is the best and cheapest way to prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus through sexual intercourse, but a campaign to encourage safe sex has run into opposition from groups worried it could lead to promiscuity.

A great many HIV/AIDS infections are caused by unsafe sex, which is why it is necessary to increase the public campaign for the use of condoms, said Pandu Riono, a public health expert from the University of Indonesia.

"A survey conducted by the Ministry of Health shows that 3.36 percent of sex workers in Jakarta are infected with HIV/AIDS," he said during a recent discussion.

Most "high-class" sex workers are relatively more aware of the importance of using condoms to prevent infection. But other sex workers are either unaware or reluctant to require clients to use a condom for fear that it could cost them money.

"The use of condoms could also prevent the infection spreading to family members, given that more than 50 percent of men visiting prostitutes are married," said Pandu.

Married men who become infected with HIV/AIDS can transfer the virus to their wives. "That is why the campaign promoting the use of condoms as the cheapest and safest way to prevent HIV/AIDS infection must be strongly endorsed," said Pandu.

The most popular condom brands here cost between Rp 500 and Rp 2,000 each.

As part of the safe sex campaign, "Stop AIDS" ads and commercials promoting the use of condoms have appeared in newspapers and on TV stations.

However, the ads became the target of protests by members of the public and Muslim groups, including the Indonesia Mujahiddin Council, which accused the ads of promoting casual sex.

"We have filed a strong protest demanding the TV stations stop airing the ads, which promote casual sex rather than campaigning against the dangers of HIV/AIDS infection," said Fauzan Al Anzani.

Fauzan said some of the scenes in the ads were inappropriate and should not be aired over a public medium such as TV stations. "How can we explain such things to our children, who also see these ads?" Fauzan said.

Similar opposition was also heard from the Society Against Pornography, which said the ads advocated casual sex.