Veterans visit Balikpapan<\/p>\n
BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan (JP): More than 120 Australians,
\nincluding 38 World War II veterans, arrived on Friday for a visit
\nto commemorate a battle that took place in this city fifty years
\nago.<\/p>\n
\"The visit is meant to commemorate the battle to liberate
\nBalikpapan from the Japanese colonialists half a century ago,\"
\nhead of the Australian veterans' delegation Allan Hawake was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said the visit, sponsored by the Australian government, was
\nalso meant to commemorate the end of the World War II 50 years
\nago.<\/p>\n
The delegation, which included a number of in-service soldiers
\nand drummers, arrived at Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan on
\nFriday and held a ceremony at an Australian soldiers' monument in
\nthe city on Saturday to commemorate the Australian soldiers who
\ndied in the battle.<\/p>\n
Hawake, who is also secretary to the Australian veterans'
\ndepartment, said eight of the 38 visiting veterans were soldiers
\nwho fought in the battle.<\/p>\n
\"Some 280 Australian soldiers died in the battle to liberate
\nBalikpapan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the delegation would also visit Tarakan in East
\nKalimantan, where they would hold a similar commemorative
\nceremony, before leaving for Sandakan in Sabah, East Malaysia.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/veterans-visit-balikpapan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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