R

esidents of Nainggolan village in Samosir regency, North Sumatra, have reportedly demanded the expulsion of three HIV-positive orphans out of fear that they would contract the disease.

North Sumatra AIDS Prevention Commission (KPA) head Ahmad Ramadhan said the Nainggolan community had issued the ultimatum on Oct. 19, giving the three children — all orphans under the age of 12 — until Friday to leave the regency.

“If the children refuse to leave, the community will force them out using their own methods. This is inhumane,” Ahmad told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The children, who are currently under the care of the Batak Protestant Church’s (HKBP) AIDS committee, are originally from Balige in Toba Samosir regency. They moved to Samosir earlier this year.

Ahmad lamented the residents’ warning, particularly because they had accepted two HIV-positive children from North Tapanuli last year.

“Why can’t they accept [the three children] this year?” he said.

Berlina Sibagariang of the HKBP revealed that residents had also banned the three children from attending an elementary school and an early childhood education school (PAUD) in Samosir.

They are currently under immense pressure, she added.

“They are not allowed to go to school and now face expulsion from Samosir,” Berlina said, adding that the committee was working to assist the three children and lobby the local community so they could remain on the island.