Construction of Seroja Monument begins<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri (left) shook hands with Seroja
\nveterans after laying the first stone at a ceremony on Thursday
\nto mark construction of the Seroja Monument, to commemorate the
\n3,625 Indonesian soldiers killed in the former Indonesian
\nprovince of East Timor.<\/p>\n
"As I recently fulfilled the invitation of East Timor
\npresident Xanana Gusmao to attend the country's independence day,
\nI asked him to maintain all the cemeteries for Indonesian
\nsoldiers located in Dili and several regencies there, because,
\nsomehow, they are heroes of both countries," Megawati said at the
\nceremony held at the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters.<\/p>\n
Under the New Order regime Indonesia launched the Seroja
\nmilitary operation in 1975 to quell an independence movement in
\nthe region.<\/p>\n
The Rp 5 billion monument will be built on a 1,400-square-
\nmeter plot of land and is slated to be completed on Heroes' Day,
\nNov. 10, 2002.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Indonesian veterans who served in East Timor
\nburned their medals prior to Megawati's visit to East Timor on
\nMay, 20. The visit was also opposed by military officers and
\nHouse of Representatives legislators. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/construction-of-seroja-monument-begins-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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