From Thailand's open debate about and readiness to deal with its HIV problem to the relationship between the Burmese regime and the drug trade, this book investigates the way that the HIV epidemic has taken its course in seven countries of Southeast Asia. The author shows how the cultural and political landscapes of these countries have affected the often devastating progress of the disease. The way that the epidemic has spread is seen as being vitally linked to the general condition of human rights in the societies, while being specifically mediated by sexual behaviour, drug use and the state of health care. The book discusses the problems of the HIV epidemic while giving a personal account of the author's own experience of Southeast Asia and asserting the real possibility for affirmative action.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Countries: Thailand - the descending Bhudda, Thailand now; Burma - being in Myanmar, going to Burma; Cambodia - AIDS and the torn society; Laos PDR - travels in the Cold War; Malaysia - ethnicity, activism and AIDS; Vietnam - the Thai model in action; Yunnan - China's Southeast Asia. Part 2 People, risks: women - wives, mothers, daughters; the flesh trade - prostitution and trafficking in ASEAN; military studies; chasing the dragon - heroin and AIDS; tribes - the virus that kills the gods; other genders - katoeys, waria, hinjras, toms and dees; Chaai Chuay Chaai - men helping men; prisons and prisoners; the media; activists. Part 3 Relativity and culture: drugs wars and the war on drugs; medical ethics, human rights, Asian values; democracy, empowerment, and health; conclusion - condoms or landmines.

Reviews

'Part travelog, part ethnography.. With an eye for the details of daily life, Beyrer takes the reader on a journey through the cultural and political contours of contemporary Southeast Asia... skilfully weaves diverse voices into a broad tapestry which includes the political economy of HIV... This informal, engaging book will appeal to a wide audience.' - "China Information", Vol XIII, No 1, 1998

'Excellent... hard-hitting and clear-sighted... A first-rate book, both scientifically based and written in terms the lay reader can understand.' - "South China Morning Post", July 18, 1998