Mega honors leading nationals<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As part of the annual Independence Day celebrations, President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri conferred on Saturday medals of honor to
\n13 people who had made significant contributions to the country.<\/p>\n
Former rector of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University
\nand conservationist Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri; former National
\nPolice chief, the late Hoegeng Imam Santoso; writer and
\njournalist, the late Mochtar Lubis; and former ambassador at
\nlarge during the former president Soekarno era, the late Supeni
\nwere awarded the Bintang Mahaputra, the country's second highest
\nstate medal.<\/p>\n
The country's most prestigious medal, the Bintang Republik
\nIndonesia, has not been awarded this year.<\/p>\n
Koesnadi was present at the ceremony at the State Palace,
\nwhile family members of the three other Bintang recipients
\ncollected the medals.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, acting
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Hari
\nSabarno and Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, were also present.<\/p>\n
United Development Party senior legislator Aisyah Amini, who
\nhas sat in the House since 1977, was chosen to receive the
\nBintang Jasa Utama, an award given to people for their services
\nto the country.<\/p>\n
Aisyah, one of the longest serving lawmakers, will end her
\ntenure in September.<\/p>\n
The same medal went to Home Affairs Ministry Inspector General
\nSinyo Sarundajang, champion of woman rights Winarsih Soedarbo,
\nresearchers Lindajati Tanuwijaya, Susono and Suwarto
\nMartosudirjo, and senior neurosurgeon Padmo Santjojo.<\/p>\n
Sarundajang was credited for his role in stewarding the
\nstrife-torn Maluku province back to peace in the wake of a
\nprotracted sectarian conflict during his tenure as an interim
\ngovernor there.<\/p>\n
Megawati also presented the Bintang Jasa Pratama to Saiful
\nRasyid, the regent of Hulu Sungai Tengah in South Kalimantan<\/p>\n
Saiful had successfully persuaded the native tribespeople of
\nthe province, the Dayaks, to grow meranti trees and to regreen
\nthe tropical rain forest.<\/p>\n
Also on Saturday, Megawati met with a group of high achievers
\nselected from provinces nationwide.<\/p>\n
They are invited to the official ceremony commemorating the
\n59th anniversary of an independant Indonesia at the Merdeka
\nPalace on Tuesday, which Megawati will preside over.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-honors-leading-nationals-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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