Megawati to visit Japan in June

Megawati to visit Japan in June

TOKYO: President Megawati Soekarnoputri will make a state
visit to Japan from June 22 through June 25, the Japanese foreign
ministry said on Friday.

She will meet with Japanese Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko
and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the ministry said.

The visit will strengthen the friendly ties between the two
nations, the ministry said.

The visit was announced less than two weeks after Indonesia
and Aceh separatists met in Tokyo for two-day peace talks, which
failed to salvage a peace deal brokered by the Henry Dunant
Centre (HDC) in December.

Only hours after the talks collapsed, Megawati signed a decree
authorizing a military operation and imposed martial law in Aceh
province.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday he was
"deeply concerned" about what impact the renewed hostilities in
Aceh would have on the civilian population there. -- AFP