Student leaders from Thailand's high-education institutions have expressed opposition to the installment of condom-vending machines on campus, fearing it would encourage more sex activities among young students.

"We agreed that the timing is not right and that (the condom- vending machine plan) is not the best solution to fight the AIDS problem," the Student Union Network secretary-general Vitoon Chomchaipol was quoted by newspaper The Nation as saying on Thursday.

All but one of the seven board members attending Thursday's meeting voted against the Public Health Ministry's plan to install condom-vending machines on campus next year.

Having successfully encouraged 98 percent of the sex industry to use condoms, the Thai government was now concerned with youth having active sex life.

Only one third of young unmarried couples who had casual sex were thought to use condom, said the ministry earlier.

Vowing to campaign for 100 percent use of condoms among young people, the public health ministry recently installed 3,000 condom- vending machines in toilets of department stores, entertainment venues and other public areas to promote safe sex.

"Casual sex is a problem involving a small group of students," said Vitoon. "We are concerned that with easy access to condoms, the majority, who are reluctant now, will jump onto the bandwagon. "

Beating down annual HIV/AIDS infection cases from 140,000 of the 1991 to current 20,000 cases a year, Thailand now was faced with challenges of increasing prevalence among youths having active sex life, experts warned.

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