Freed prisoners want to meet president

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Former political prisoners in the province have delivered a letter to President Megawati Soekarnoputri asking her not only to hand over the special autonomy law but also to hold talks to discuss their individual political status.

Saul J. Bomay, spokesman for the ex-prisoners, told the press here on Saturday that they had also forwarded the letter to high- ranking state officials and the province's civilian and military leaders.

"If the president comes here only to hand over the law as a gift for the Papuan people, she'd better cancel her visit," he said. Bomay asked the president for a dialog because the law would not resolve the problems in the province.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to visit on Dec. 22. --Antara