Kennedy to visit Indonesia

Kennedy to visit Indonesia

JAKARTA (Antara): United States Congressman Patrick J Kennedy will make a brief visit to Indonesia this Christmas, when he is expected to meet Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo in East Timor.

The congressman (Democrat, Rhode Island) however, will not come to Jakarta, Antara said here yesterday.

Sources declined to elaborate on Kennedy's itinerary while in Indonesia.

Kennedy is the son of U.S. Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy (Democrat, Massachusetts) and nephew of the late U.S. President John "Jack" Kennedy.

Unlike his father however, he represents Rhode Island --the smallest among the six states in New England-- instead of Massachusetts.

Sworn in on Jan. 4, 1995, Kennedy whose Irish-Catholic family has a long and respected history in U.S. politics, is the youngest member of the House. He is 29 years old.

Belo and East Timor anti-integration activist Jose Ramos-Horta are this year's Nobel Peace Prize awardees.

After collecting his gold medal, diploma and cash prize on Dec. 10 in Oslo, the bishop is slated to visit Germany and the Vatican.

Belo, scheduled to arrive back in Dili on Dec. 23, is the first Roman Catholic to win the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.