Megawati cancels North Sulawesi visit

Megawati cancels North Sulawesi visit

MANADO, North Sulawesi: President Megawati Soekarnoputri has
decided to cancel her visit to the new regency of Talaud in North
Sulawesi, which shares a border with the Philippines.

Spokesman for the North Sulawesi provincial administration
Edwin Silangen confirmed the cancellation of the President's
visit to the new regency on Wednesday.

"We have just received a confirmation from Jakarta that the
visit, which was scheduled for July 5, has been canceled and
there was no reason given," he said.

An informal leader in Talaud, Nelson Sasaw, said many people
in the province expressed their disappointment with the
President's decision since preparations had already been made to
welcome her.

"We will be very glad if the President considers renewing her
plans to visit the regency because her presence has long been
anticipated to solve various problems," he said.

A councillor of the provincial legislative council Rony Tanos
agreed that the President's visit had been anticipated to resolve
many issues, including the people from each country crossing the
border. --JP