Govt to award tsunami workers

JAKARTA: The government will soon award medals to local and foreign aid workers who were involved in the emergency relief mission in the tsunami-devastated Aceh region, a minister said on Friday.

Speaking after a ministerial meeting, Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Alwi Shihab said the Satyalancana Kebaktian Sosial (Social Service Medal) would be presented by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of independence on Aug. 17 in Jakarta.

Alwi said the public could now contact his office to nominate foreigners and Indonesian nationals for the medals, with nominations closing on July 31.

Thousands of local and international volunteers arrived in Aceh and Nias shortly after the huge earthquake and killer waves hit the area on Dec. 26. --Antara