RI medals for Aussie chrash victims<\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister John Howard (far right) bows his head
\nas Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono puts a medal on
\none of the nine coffins, watched by Governor General Michael
\nJeffrey (center).<\/p>\n
The coffins arrived on Tuesday at Sydney airport, containing
\nthe bodies of nine Australian defense force personnel who were
\nkilled in a helicopter crash while helping relief efforts on Nias
\nisland that was hit last week by a massive earthquake.<\/p>\n
Susilo gave the Satya Lencana (medals of honor) to the nine
\npersonnel who died and two others who were seriously injured in
\nthe crash, during a special ceremony at the airport.<\/p>\n
\"I once again convey my deepest sadness for the sacrifices
\nmade by the brave servicemen,\" said Susilo, who was accompanied
\nby First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and several ministers during the
\nceremony held at the end of his three-day visit to Australia.<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that the
\ngranting of the medals showed that Indonesia would not forget the
\nsacrifices made by Australia's defense personnel.<\/p>\n
Downer said that Australia was grateful that Indonesia had
\nhonored the servicemen, as well as helping speed up the
\nrepatriation of the remains. \"The medal of honor given by
\nIndonesia is a sign that it will not forget the deeds of the
\nservicemen,\" he said. (Rendi A. Witular\/The Jakarta Post)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-medals-for-aussie-chrash-victims-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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