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