Gus Dur gets warm welcome during his N. Sulawesi tour
Gus Dur gets warm welcome during his N. Sulawesi tour
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid received on Monday a
warm welcome during his tour to Bitung, North Sulawesi, when
thousands of elementary and high school students cheerfully
greeted him.
The students put aside the first day of their 2001/2002 school
year to greet the President. With each waving a smaller version
of the country's red and white flag, students and teachers braved
the sun's heat and waited for hours to welcome the President and
his entourage.
Accompanied by First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, Minister of Forestry
Marzuki Usman and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Rokhmin Dahuri, the President arrived in Manado on Monday for a
two-day visit to the province.
Students and teachers said they were extremely pleased with
the President's visit to mark the construction of the Bitung
container port since the modern port was expected to accelerate
the province's exports and imports to neighboring countries in
the Pacific Rim.
"When I finish my SMU (senior high school), I will also be
able to work at the port," student Rininta Supit told Antara.
The President laid the port's first cornerstone and also
inaugurated the first direct shipping route from Bitung to
Singapore.
"They were enthusiastic and happy although they had to wait
for hours on the side of the road in the sun," said teacher
Samuel Muhalling, who was busy watching his students.
Abdurrahman did not forget to make a new promise to the
people. "I promise to follow Bitung Port's development by
providing computerization," he pledged.
The President also officiated on Monday the extension of Sam
Ratulangi Airport's runway from 2,500 meters to 2,650 meters. The
project had started in 1997. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had
provided a US$150 million loan to finance its construction.
The President said he had invited Saudi Arabian investors to
build bridges along the route from Manado to Makassar in South
Sulawesi, which would enable tourists to make the overland
journey.
"They can come by train or other modes of land
transportation," said the President.
He also warned North Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh to remove
the mercury that was present in the tourist resort of Bunaken and
threatened that he would not visit the area again if the governor
failed to follow his order.
"I will only go to Bunaken when the level of mercury has
dropped," the President warned.
Abdurrahman is scheduled to open the second Great Minahasa
congress in Tomohon, Minahasa regency on Tuesday.(prb)