I Gusti Ngurah Wahyunda, coordinator of IKON Bali, an organization of former drug users fighting for equal rights and humane treatment, died Friday.
Known as an outspoken activist and intellectual, Wahyunda had managed to drive in recent years the issues on drug users' rights and tribulations into the public consciousness.
"He was my role model," former drug addict Gung Kik said.
"Through his actions and his life he made me believe that no matter how many times we fell down we would have the power to stand up again."
He added Wahyunda had relapsed into drug use several times but had always managed to pull himself out of the destructive habit.
A somber atmosphere dominated his cremation on Sunday afternoon at his home village in Denkayu Delodan, Mengwi.
A light shower of rain descended upon the barren cemetery as hundreds of activists, government officials and villagers offered final prayers for the deceased.
Wahyunda passed away in Sanglah Central Hospital after a long bout against tuberculosis and diarrhea.
The 31-year-old is survived by his 11-year-old son.
"He was hospitalized for three weeks and several times lost consciousness," an activist said.
"Throughout his ordeal, his family and fellow activists from Bali and Jakarta never left his side."
IKON was born at the height of the HIV/AIDS mitigation program on the island.
Using harm-reduction approaches, local NGOs, such as Hatihati, Matahati and Yakeba, tried to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS among injecting drugs users (IDUs) by educating them to stop the deadly needle-sharing habit as well as by providing new needles and syringes for free through NEP (Needle Exchange Program).
The approaches were viewed with suspicion by law enforcement officials, who believed that NEP and harm-reduction approaches condoned drug use.
Wahyunda led IKON to spearhead a public awareness campaign to draw attention to various human rights abuses experienced by former and active drug users.
He also lobbied the local courts and judges to stop sending drug users to prison and start sending them to rehab clinic.
"His life will inspire other drug users to quit this deadly habit and to fight for their rights," Yakeba's activist Kadek Adi Mantara said.
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