Mega to inaugurate projects in Aceh

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to visit the troubled province of Aceh next week, the first visit since martial law was imposed there in May last year.

In the visit slated for March 7, the President will inaugurate several development projects, possibly including a controversial project to widen the Ladia-Galaska highway, which has a major impact on the conservation area between North Sumatra and Aceh provinces.

"In the latest confirmation I received from the state secretary, the visit will be on March 7," Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said over the weekend.

Abdullah said that the President was also set inaugurate other projects during her visit there. These included the construction of a complex of low-cost housing for civil servants, the construction of an Islamic center and the opening of Iskandar Muda fertilizer factory in North Aceh regency.

The upcoming visit will be her third since she became president in July 2001. The visit is only days away from the beginning of the election campaigning period on March 11, sparking suspicion that she will use the function to generate more publicity for her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as the election draws close.

Indonesians will cast their votes for legislative candidates on April 5. -- Antara