Bonum Certa Men Certa

Cablegate: Bill Gates Uses AIDS to Bring Microsoft Windows to Indonesia at Expense of Linux-based OLPC (Updated)

Cablegate



Summary: HIV/AIDS and avian influenza a back-door Trojan for a computer deal with Microsoft deal written all over it

USING malaria to attack GNU/Linux is not uncommon. Gates loves using "health" as an excuse to lobby politicians and then have them commit to Microsoft Windows at the same time. It's a clever trick. If someone berates Gates for suppressing GNU/Linux adoption, then his PR people will accuse the critics of leading to deaths of people.



In what initially seems like another Cablegate cable about AIDS (see these two cables), there is actually a part which says that "The Ambassador requested a meeting with Bakrie after learning of his proposed February 5 visit to the Gates Foundation through a Microsoft contact."

Notice how the Gates Foundation and Microsoft remain inseparable. Then it says: "Bakrie hopes that Microsoft can help Indonesia expand access to computers in schools and throughout the country. [...] software for one million computers. Bakrie also hopes Microsoft will use its contacts to help persuade other information technology companies to provide hardware. The Ambassador noted that Nicholas Negroponte leads One Laptop per Child and offered to help make contact."

Well, we all know what Microsoft did to OLPC.

Here is the cable from 2008:








VZCZCXRO7588 RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #0126/01 0220921 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 220921Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7703 RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J07/CATMED/CAT// RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8296 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1899 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1075 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7717 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000126

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG AND OES USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO, AMED, CASC, EAGR, AMGT, PGOV, ID, SUBJECT: BAKRIE DESCRIBES GATES FOUNDATION AGENDA

REF: Jakarta 68

1.(SBU) Summary. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie told the Ambassador on January 21 that a five-member delegation planned to visit the Gates Foundation in Seattle on February 5 to discuss health concerns and Indonesia's interest in expanding access to computers. Bakrie noted that the Indonesian delegation would make presentations to the Foundation's Global Health Program on HIV/AIDS and avian influenza and may also discuss tuberculosis. The Ambassador described growing concerns about Indonesia's handling of avian influenza, noting that the Foundation may be more receptive to other health collaboration. Bakrie expressed interest in joining the delegation if the Foundation could change the date. End Summary.

Proposed Visit to Gates Foundation ----------------------------------

2. (SBU) The Ambassador requested a meeting with Bakrie after learning of his proposed February 5 visit to the Gates Foundation through a Microsoft contact. Bakrie told the Ambassador that the Indonesia government had exchanged letters with Dr. Tadataka Yamada, President of Global Health Program, and planned to send a five-member delegation to visit the Foundation on February 5. Bakrie explained that Indonesia is seeking programmatic support from both Microsoft and the Gates Foundation on computer and health concerns.

Increasing Access to Computers ------------------------------

3. (SBU) Bakrie hopes that Microsoft can help Indonesia expand access to computers in schools and throughout the country. Indonesia currently has one computer for every 1,000 people. With a goal of providing one computer for every 20 people, Indonesia will seek Microsoft assistance in providing software for one million computers. Bakrie also hopes Microsoft will use its contacts to help persuade other information technology companies to provide hardware. The Ambassador noted that Nicholas Negroponte leads One Laptop per Child and offered to help make contact.

Health Challenges of AI, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis --------------------------------------------- ------

4. (SBU) Bakrie described Indonesia's planned presentations to the Foundation on both avian influenza and HIV/AIDS. The Ambassador noted that Indonesia and the Gates Foundation could benefit from a friendly but frank discussion of health issues. The Ambassador cautioned that the Gates Foundation may not be receptive to proposed collaboration on AI, noting growing international concerns about Indonesia's continued refusal to share samples while its avian influenza fatality rate is increasing and cases continue to occur in Tangerang, the district adjacent to the international airport. Bakrie noted that sample sharing would need to be worked out in accordance with Geneva talks and dismissed the severity of the AI problem, stating that tuberculosis is really the bigger crisis that continues to be ignored. The Ambassador encouraged Bakrie to raise tuberculosis concerns with the Foundation.

Delegation Members ------------------

5. (SBU) Bakrie expressed interest in joining the GOI delegation if the Foundation could change the date. Current members of the delegation include:

-- Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Secretary to the National AIDS Commission

-- Dr. Broto Wasisto, Head of the Ministry of Health Committee on Drug Control

-- Tantri Yuliandini, National AIDS Resource Center Coordinator

-- Bayu Krisnamurthi, Executive Secretary, National Committee on Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness

JAKARTA 00000126 002 OF 002

-- Dr. Heru Setijanto, Secretary, National Committee on Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness.

HUME







Notice how Microsoft and AIDS somehow make it into the same cable. Is it about helping people or just corporations with patents (including those who sell very expensive drugs, not just Windows)?

Update: Also see the following cable from around the same time. The subject is "Bill Gates Visits Indonesia for Global Leadership Forum".








VZCZCXRO1698 PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #0927 1330653 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 120653Z MAY 08 ZFR FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8966 RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJB/DOJ WASHDC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7778 UNCLAS JAKARTA 000927

SIPDIS SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG, L/DL, EAP/EX, EB/CIP AND OES/IHA USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN USDA/FAS/OSTA BRANT, ROSENBLUM USDA/APHIS ANNELLI

E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO, EAGR, KFLU, ECPS, AMGT, PGOV, ID SUBJECT: Bill Gates Visits Indonesia for Global Leadership Forum

//////////////////ZFR/////////////ZFR//////// /ZFR PLEASE ZFR THE ABOVE JAKARTA MRN 927 IMI PLEASE ZFR THE ABOVE JAKARTA MRN 927 AND BLANK ALL ASSOCIATED MCN'S. MESSAGE WAS CANCELLED PER DRAFTER. MESSAGE WAS SENT IN ERROR. WE ZOB. //////////ZFR////////////////ZFR//////////ZFR

HEFFERN







Here is another cable of interest. "Government Leaders Forum Asia" includes Bill Gates, even though he is not a government leader (or maybe he is a de facto one). Once again we see how HIV/AIDS and avian influenza are being used to help Microsoft.








VZCZCXRO1610 PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #0932 1330854 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 120854Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8969 RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJB/DOJ WASHDC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7779 UNCLAS JAKARTA 000932

SIPDIS SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG, L/DL, EAP/EX, EB/CIP AND OES/IHA USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN USDA/FAS/OSTA BRANT, ROSENBLUM USDA/APHIS ANNELLI

E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO, EAGR, KFLU, ECPS, AMGT, PGOV, ID SUBJECT: Bill Gates Attends Government Leaders Forum Asia

1. (U) During the May 8-9 Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) in Jakarta, Bill Gates praised President Yudhoyono for personally leading Indonesia's national committee on information technology and for setting ambitious goals. Gates said that while not all of Indonesia's goals in information technology will likely be achievable in current timeframes, having lofty goals in itself is a best practice as it serves as a driver towards achievement. Yudhoyono highlighted the USAID/MCC-supported E-Procurement system as an example of Indonesia's effort to promote electronic governance in order to streamline processes and improve transparency. Over 200 government leaders and private sector participants from other Asian countries attended the forum that focused on education, health and economic development.

2. (SBU) During the forum, Microsoft President Director for Indonesia Tony Chen told Embassy staff that hosting the GLF Conference in Jakarta was a boon to both Microsoft Indonesia and to the Indonesian government. He thanked Embassy staff for assistance, emphasizing the important role Ambassador Hume played in allaying Microsoft leadership's security concerns. Hume's trip to Redmond, Washington was one of the important factors in Microsoft's decision to hold the forum in Jakarta.

3.(SBU) On the sides of the forum, a Gates Foundation official queried Embassy staff on latest developments in avian influenza sample sharing and on recent Ministry of Health actions barring NAMRU-2 from receiving samples. He noted that Indonesian media had mischaracterized the Gates Foundation's interest in avian influenza assistance to Indonesia. The Gates Foundation was interested in working on new vaccine development technologies that would ultimately eliminate chronic global vaccine shortages years from now. The Foundation was not planning on specific assistance to Indonesia to develop an avian influenza vaccine.

4. (SBU) On May 9, Bill Gates spoke to 2,000 assembled government officials and students at a Presidential Lecture organized by the Kadin Secretariat. During the event, Gates recognized a student group from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) as the national of a Microsoft sponsored innovation competition and also announced that Universitas Pelita Harapan has been named the fifth Indonesian university that will host a Microsoft innovation center.

HEFFERN





Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

Microsoft Windows "Market Share" Measured Around 2.7% in Iraq, Plunges to 6.5% in Saudi Arabia
Microsoft isn't on the agenda in Iraq
Video: The Rise of GNU/Linux and Free Software as Seen by RMS in 2004
DTP's founder argued that when Windows goes below 85% "market share", it'll lose its grip in the monopoly sense
 
Definitely Not a Ponzi Scheme
Bitcoin v Microsoft
Online Safety Act Tries to Accomplish the Impossible
All I can say is, "good luck with that!"
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a Billionaires' Lobby
Billionaires that control tech companies
Microsoft Borrows 3 Billion Dollars Per Month, a Company Truly Worth Trillions Would Not Do This
if Windows (and Office) "market share" fell from about 90% to barely 30%, how come Microsoft is now "valued" at 20 times more?
It's Even Worse Than Microsoft Lunduke Puts It; GNOME is SLAPPing Journalists
In our experience, GNOME is so malicious - some elements of it in particular - that it would launch multiple simultaneous SLAPP campaigns not only against journalists but also their spouses
GNU/Linux Adoption Reaches All-Time Highs in Chile, statCounter Indicates
This month marks 4 years since Vista 11 came out (as a fake "leak") and some surveys still measure its adoption at less than 40%
Slop Will Not Change the World
Some of us grow up sooner and leave that nonsense behind (or altogether avoid/skip it)
Gemini Links 03/08/2025: Nostalgia and TOFU
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, August 02, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, August 02, 2025
Google Throwing Out the Search Engine With the Bathwater is a Complete and Utter 'Shi---ow' as the Company Drowns in Debt, Layoffs, and Worse
The mainstream media almost never mentions GAFAM debt
Next Month 'New Techrights' Turns Two
Next month, on the fourth week, it'll be 2 years since the migration
Operating Systems' Statistics in New Zealand: GNU/Linux Up, Windows Down to All-Time Lows
Remember all this when the media says that Microsoft became like 10 times more valuable in those 15 years (from 400 billion to 4,000 billion in alleged "worth")
GNU/Linux Share in Sweden Has Doubled Since PewDiePie, A Swede, Recommended It
months ago he moved to GNU/Linux, then told others to consider doing the same
GNU/Linux Hits Record High in Portugal
GNU/Linux picking up in Portugal
Gemini Protocol is Not Dying, It's Growing
When people say things like "Gemini Protocol is dying" the data does not support them
GNU/Linux is Thriving This Summer
It is meanwhile acknowledged, even by Microsoft pushers, that many GNU/Linux PCs will get sabotaged next month
The End of Microsoft's Reign in Spain: Windows Falls to All-Time Lows in Spanish Web Traffic
Windows sank to new lows in Spain
The Bots Never Sleep: In The Weekends, Slopfarms Dominate Google News, Majority of Entries in Google Are Fake Articles About 'Linux'
Google is fast becoming an ocean of plagiarism; the same goes for Google News, which was supposed to have extra quality control
Russia's Yandex Has Caught Up With Bing in Terms of "Market Share"
Microsoft has been firing loads of Bing workers for over 2 years already
Canada: GNU/Linux Up to Records Highs, Windows Down to Record Lows
Microsoft already announcing some plans to shut down Vista 11
Gemini Links 02/08/2025: Transducers in Typed Racket and American ISPs
Links for the day
Links 02/08/2025: Microsoft Already Kills Vista 11 SE, Smartphone Sales Down, Truth Gets "You're Fired!" in the US
Links for the day
Russia: GNU/Linux Rises to Highest Adoption Level Since Invasion of Ukraine
Moving up in the north
Microsoft's Latest Financial Report: We "Gained" 300 Million Dollars in "Goodwill" and Liabilities Grew by 32 Billion Dollars
Microsoft's debt has reached an all-time high
The Register US = The Register MS
Formerly The Register UK
Weeks After Microsoft Shut Down Its Operations in Pakistan Windows Falls to All-Time Lows
Only less than a month ago it was quietly revealed, based on laid-off staff, that Microsoft shut down in Pakistan
Criminal Behaviour is the Standard Operating Procedure at Microsoft
In the future I'll be able to tell how, when dealing with SLAPPs from Microsofters, their Microsoft services failed me and sometimes even blocked my contacts
GNU/Linux Rises to All-Time Highs in Europe
many people will get fired for buying Microsoft
All-Time Highs for GNU/Linux on the Client Desktop/Laptop, Based on Steam Survey
GNU/Linux rose to 2.89% in Steam
Links 02/08/2025: Blaugust 2025 and "Russia Declares Navalny Memoir ‘Extremist’"
Links for the day
Free Software is Not a Business Model
Go ahead, ask your friend, "how do you plan to monetise your children?"
When (Almost) One-Man Operations Are Disguised as Medium-Sized Companies
the CEO hides in the US (hiding from his ex-wives, 4 daughters from those wives, and Sirius staff that he defrauded)
LLM Slop Harms Real Literature, Real Web Sites, Real Journalism
LLM slop is a parasite and it'll run out of legitimate outputs
Upcoming OSI Scandal Series
The OSI is a rogue actor because it serves Microsoft in exchange for money
Slopwatch: The Issue Persists, But the Consensus in the Media Changes as Google Enrages It With LLM Plagiarism
We've meanwhile assessed the latest output from Linuxiac
Microsoft Actually in Trouble, Microsofters Unable to Obey Judges' Orders
For the second time in a week, Microsofters are unable to obey orders
IRC Proceedings: Friday, August 01, 2025
IRC logs for Friday, August 01, 2025
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
Links 02/08/2025: İstanbul Retail Inflation Reaches 42.48%, US FBI Opens Office in New Zealand
Links for the day
Gemini Links 02/08/2025: ZFS, LLM Hype, and Fake Modules
Links for the day
Links 01/08/2025: Health, Conflict, and Attacks on Freedom of the Press
Links for the day
Microsoft's Debt Exploded by 15.4 Billion Dollars in the Past 9 Months Alone (Despite All the Layoffs)
As of minutes ago, at 6PM on a Friday, the numbers are made public
Meeting (Webchat) With Maria Arranz Gomez, Florian Grundies, Jürgen Janda and Konstantinos Kortsaris Confronts EPO Management About Breaking Promises and Crushing Workers
The lack of consistent messages suggests plans other than what's advertised and the lack of consultation (secrecy) likewise
Links 01/08/2025: "The Great British Firewall" and U.S. Army Sponsors Palantir
Links for the day
For Second Day in a Row, Top Story in The Register MS is "Microsoft Says"
The editor in chief exercises control over everybody else
LLMs as Attack Method Against Free Software and Programming
DDoS in "hey hi" (slop) clothing
Stability and Reliability, Backward Compatibility
I don't fancy relying on social control media as "sources"
What "the News" Looks Like in 2025
The "says" (or "sez") phenomenon
History Will Be Distorted, Sometimes Intentionally, Under the Guise of Intelligence (Manipulated/Curated Slop)
Militarised misinformation or military-grade chaff is a national security threat, even domestically
Financial Engineering Companies: A Company Worth 4 Trillion Dollars Would Not Borrow 100+ Billion Dollars at Interest Rates Like Today's
Many headlines perpetuate the lie Microsoft had just 2 waves of layoffs
Microsoft is Googlebombing "Linux" While Paying Former News Sites to Publish SPAM
How much lower will IDG sink?
Google as a 'Bullshit Generator' Disguised as Intelligence
It'll probably cause Google to get sued a lot, both by individuals and companies
As Expected, Google in the UK Now Experiments With Slop Instead of Web Search
At this point more people ought to stop and think: Does Google's search engine deserve trust?
The Data You Don't Give Away is Your Advantage
stop sharing data that does not need to be shared
Being Obedient or Doing the Right Thing
The world always changes for the better because of people who think "Outside the Box", not the cogs
Gemini Links 01/08/2025: Happy Hacking Keyboards and New Gemini Arrivals
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, July 31, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, July 31, 2025