Mass wedding for infantry troops

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)