Meritorious award

Meritorious award

From Kompas

My mother and I had every reason to be proud of my late father being included in the list of freedom fighters who were conferred meritorious awards. It was Nov. 17, 1995 when the Regional Executive Board of the 45 Generation of North Sulawesi province, based on Presidential Decree No.50/1984, conferred an honor which entailed installing a sharpened bamboo pole on this grave.

My mother was particularly delighted on the occasion. But her joy waned a little at the end of the award presenting ceremony when she and other widows of heroes were obliged to pay Rp 25,000 in administrative costs, a significant amount for an elderly woman in that town. I was quite astonished at this practice.

MARTINO ANDRIAS

Jakarta