Wahid to visit troubled provinces

Indonesian troops prepare to go on patrol in Aceh's capital, where dozens have died in recent weeks

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid will travel to the troubled provinces of Aceh and Riau next week in a bid to calm tensions there.

An upsurge in violence in Aceh has hit gas exports vital to the country's economy, while disputes with local residents in Riau are disrupting crude oil output and delivery.

Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar says Wahid is expected to travel to Riau before going to Aceh, but he did not say whether the president would be staying overnight at either province.

Wahid paid a brief visit to Aceh in December 2000 when he wore a bulletproof vest for protection.

Hurting the bottom line

Unrest in both Aceh and Riau is hurting Indonesia's already shaky economy.

Threats by rebels from the Free Aceh Movement forced Exxon Mobil Indonesia to close major gas fields in the province more than a week ago. The move has forced users in Japan and South Korea to search for alternative suppliers.

Exxon Mobil Indonesia is the country's largest liquefied natural gas producer.

Indonesia's reputation as a reliable crude oil supplier and Asia's only OPEC member also took a hit last week, when a Japanese-chartered oil tanker was held in Riau for almost a week over a local dispute.

The tanker was shipping oil pumped by PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, the country's biggest oil operator.

Finance Minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo has warned that the Aceh gas field closures would hurt the government's budget, which is already in a deep deficit.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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