Portuguese invited to take part in youth march

JAKARTA (JP): The people of Portugal have been invited to take part in the National Youth March in July and August, which is being planned as part of the celebrations surrounding Indonesia's 50th anniversary of independence.

Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the chief organizer of the event, said after meeting with President Soeharto yesterday that the event was expected to change the prevailing perception of Indonesia among the Portuguese people.

"The image they have of Indonesian people is that we are scary," said Hardiyanti, who is the daughter of the President.

Relations between Indonesia and Portugal have been strained as a result of the dispute over East Timor.

Hardiyanti said the participation of Portuguese citizens was being arranged by the Indonesia-Portugal Friendship Association.

Hardiyanti said she hoped that a total of 350 young people from 21 countries would take part in the march. Other countries invited include Hungary, Poland, Palestine, Vietnam, Myanmar, Jordan, Zimbabwe and the United States. (emb)