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)