Megawati cancels visits to Maluku, Aceh

Megawati cancels visits to Maluku, Aceh

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri has canceled her
official visits to Maluku and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam for
security reasons, sources at the State Palace said on Tuesday.

She was previously invited by Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh to
visit the ravaged province from Dec. 21 to 23 for a gathering
with local Muslim leaders and to inaugurate several development
projects there.

The president was also set to visit on Dec. 26 the province of
Maluku, which also saw its share of conflict and bloodshed in
recent years for a post-Christmas celebration. It would have been
her first official visit to Maluku since she assumed office two
years ago.

Palace sources would only say the cancellations were for
"security reasons."

Additionally, the president has opted out of other official
engagements in January, but she is scheduled to make a holiday
trip with her family to Cipanas Presidential Palace in West Java
from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. The first family will celebrate the
birthday of Taufik Kiemas, who is Megawati's husband. -- JP