Participant dies at jamboree

PURWOKERTO, Jawa Tengah: A participant of the National Boy Scout Jamboree 2001 died from a serious illness at a local hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a committee member said.

Commander of the Jamboree health unit Lt. Col. Suhartono told reporters that the participant, identified as 43-year-old Amir Mahmud, died from hepatitis and had been ill since his arrival at the jamboree camping ground on July 3.

The body of the scout trainer of the Riau jamboree contingent was transported to his hometown on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, some 19 scouts were treated at nearby hospitals due to various health complaints.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to close the ten-day scout jamboree on Wednesday.

Megawati is expected to arrive from Jakarta by train at noon, spokesman of the Wijaya Kusuma Regional Military Command Capt. Aras told The Jakarta Post.

Several state officials are scheduled to accompany Megawati. They are, among others, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo Adisucipto and Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin. (45/emf)