President to visit Irian Jaya

President to visit Irian Jaya

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to
visit Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya in December,
some time during the Christmas and New Year period.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the President was
to hold dialogs with the local people and leaders of the province
to assure them that the special autonomy status was the best
solution for the province.

"If any group rejects the Special Autonomy Law then hopefully
it can be resolved through this dialog," the minister said after
seeing Megawati off to Malaysia. Megawati was to attend the
funeral of Malaysia's monarch, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
who died on Wednesday. --JP