Megawati to visit Irian Jaya for Xmas

President Megawati Soekarnoputri will visit Irian Jaya from Dec. 22 to Dec. 23 to celebrate Christmas, State/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo announced on Wednesday.

"The President has agreed to fulfill the invitation to attend Christmas celebrations in Irian Jaya. Then on Dec. 23, she will continue her journey to Manado, North Sulawesi, to also attend Christmas celebrations," Bambang told journalists.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, during his 20-month tenure, also visited Irian Jaya and spent New Year's Eve of 2000 there.

When asked whether Megawati is scheduled to have meetings with Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) executives, Bambang said that the itinerary was still under discussion.

Papua is one of the knottiest woes confronting Megawati.

She has apologized to Papuans for past human rights abuses but made clear the eastern province of two million people and its natural resources would never be free. --JP