SBY to visit Mt. Sinabung on Thursday

JAKARTA. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono are scheduled to visit Mt. Sinabung in Karo, North Sumatera, Thursday on a three-day visit, North Sumatra Information and Communications Agency head Jumsadi Damanik said on Wednesday.

He said that the President would see the latest condition of the volcano and the conditions of evacuees being housed at shelters and would go directly to Kabanjahe, the seat of Karo regency, after arriving at 9 a.m. at the Soewondo Air Force Base in provincial capital of Medan.

“The President and his entourage will go directly to the main command post and will be greeted by head of the Karo Disaster Mitigation Agency. He will be briefed on the latest developments on the situation," Jumsadi said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He added Yudhoyono would then head to the presidential tent to have lunch and hold a discussion on the Mt. Sinabung eruption at the tent. As the President and the First Lady will stay overnight at the tent, the North Sumatera provincial administration will erect a large screen, measuring some 4 meters, so evacuees and the media can view the proceedings inside the presidential tent.

On Friday, the presidential entourage will head to the JW Marriott Hotel in Medan before visiting Kuala Namu International Airport and train station and conclude the day’s activities by planting a Canarium nut tree in the airport compound.

Jumsadi said the entourage would return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

"The president will return from Jakarta through the Soewondo AFB at about 8:30 a.m.," he said.

At least 1,500 security personnel from both the police and military will be deployed to safeguard the visit. (krb)