Johnson has visa for shows

Johnson has visa for shows

JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the Magic Johnson All Stars shows
here on Wednesday and Thursday have heaved a sigh of relief after
learning that the immigration department issued a visa for the
living legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson through the Indonesian
Consulate in Los Angeles, United States, on Dec. 3, 1996.

"It's not true that the visa for Johnson has yet to be issued
as published by a local newspaper," said Marcel Maulana, the
chairman of the promoter Trimuda Jantra Paramita, on Saturday.

Maulana said a coordinating ministerial meeting, chaired by
the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Azwar Anas, had
agreed to let Johnson, who is HIV positive, visit the country.

The government banned Johnson, who once played for the LA
Lakers, from entering the country in January 1994.

"Indonesia does not discriminate people who are suffering
AIDS. He (Johnson) is welcome to come here as long as he obeys
the regulations," Maulana quoted Soejono, Azwar's assistant, as
saying.

Antara reported that Johnson's visit would not be limited or
observed by the government.

"It's not a problem as long as he doesn't spread the illness
here," Soejono said.

Minister of Information Harmoko, who is also chairman of the
Indonesian Basketball Association, supported Johnson's trip to
Indonesia, through a public announcement on New Years Eve.

Johnson, who joined the United States' first Dream Team at the
1992 Olympics in Barcelona, planned to leave LA Sunday and
transit in Honolulu, Hawaii. He will visit a local basketball
camp for children.

He is scheduled to arrive tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. at the
Soekarno-Hatta airport. He plans to meet fans at Blok M Plaza in
the afternoon.

The 37-year-old basketballer wants to retain his team's
unbeatable title. The Magic Johnson All Stars team has been
unbeatable in all its matches in more than 15 countries in the
last three years.

Strong teams in Europe, including the French national team and
German team, and teams in Asia, such as Japan and the
Philippines, had been beaten by Johnson's squad, Maulana said.

Johnson plans to have his last practice tomorrow before the
shows against IM-Texmaco and Satria Muda at the Senayan Indoor
Stadium. He is to award the Magic Johnson trophy for the winner
of an elementary school basketball competition on Thursday
afternoon.

One of the promoter's staff said about 60 percent of the
shows' 20,000 tickets had been sold. They cost between Rp 50,000
(US$21) and Rp 225,000. (yan)