Johnson has visa for shows<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the Magic Johnson All Stars shows
\nhere on Wednesday and Thursday have heaved a sigh of relief after
\nlearning that the immigration department issued a visa for the
\nliving legend Earvin \"Magic\" Johnson through the Indonesian
\nConsulate in Los Angeles, United States, on Dec. 3, 1996.<\/p>\n
\"It's not true that the visa for Johnson has yet to be issued
\nas published by a local newspaper,\" said Marcel Maulana, the
\nchairman of the promoter Trimuda Jantra Paramita, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Maulana said a coordinating ministerial meeting, chaired by
\nthe Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Azwar Anas, had
\nagreed to let Johnson, who is HIV positive, visit the country.<\/p>\n
The government banned Johnson, who once played for the LA
\nLakers, from entering the country in January 1994.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia does not discriminate people who are suffering
\nAIDS. He (Johnson) is welcome to come here as long as he obeys
\nthe regulations,\" Maulana quoted Soejono, Azwar's assistant, as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Johnson's visit would not be limited or
\nobserved by the government.<\/p>\n
\"It's not a problem as long as he doesn't spread the illness
\nhere,\" Soejono said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Information Harmoko, who is also chairman of the
\nIndonesian Basketball Association, supported Johnson's trip to
\nIndonesia, through a public announcement on New Years Eve.<\/p>\n
Johnson, who joined the United States' first Dream Team at the
\n1992 Olympics in Barcelona, planned to leave LA Sunday and
\ntransit in Honolulu, Hawaii. He will visit a local basketball
\ncamp for children.<\/p>\n
He is scheduled to arrive tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. at the
\nSoekarno-Hatta airport. He plans to meet fans at Blok M Plaza in
\nthe afternoon.<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old basketballer wants to retain his team's
\nunbeatable title. The Magic Johnson All Stars team has been
\nunbeatable in all its matches in more than 15 countries in the
\nlast three years.<\/p>\n
Strong teams in Europe, including the French national team and
\nGerman team, and teams in Asia, such as Japan and the
\nPhilippines, had been beaten by Johnson's squad, Maulana said.<\/p>\n
Johnson plans to have his last practice tomorrow before the
\nshows against IM-Texmaco and Satria Muda at the Senayan Indoor
\nStadium. He is to award the Magic Johnson trophy for the winner
\nof an elementary school basketball competition on Thursday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
One of the promoter's staff said about 60 percent of the
\nshows' 20,000 tickets had been sold. They cost between Rp 50,000
\n(US$21) and Rp 225,000. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/johnson-has-visa-for-shows-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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