Mass wedding for infantry troops

NAIBONAT, East Nusa Tenggara: For the sake of efficiency and cost reduction, 32 members of the Kupang-based 744/Satya Yudha Bhakti Infantry Battalion in East Nusa Tenggara took their vows in mass wedding ceremonies, a report said.

"A wedding ceremony for Protestant soldiers was held on Sunday, for Muslim soldiers on Monday and for Catholic soldiers today (Tuesday), while a joint wedding reception will be held next Sunday," infantry battalion commander Maj. Suparno said as quoted by Antara.

He said a number of important guests were expected to attend the reception next Sunday, including the battalion's first commander, Lt. Gen. (ret) M. Yunus Yosfiah, who was the battalion's commander from 1977 until 1979, and the battalion's eighth commander Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is now coordinating minister for political and security affairs.

Suparno said the mass wedding ceremonies had cost Rp 27 million (US$3,176), with each couple being obligated to pay Rp 750,000 in administrative fees, while other expenses had been covered by donations.

The infantry battalion has 406 soldiers, some 200 of whom are still single. It is a former battalion of the former Indonesian East Timor province, which was established one year after East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976. (imn)