Pandit Nehru gets RI's award

Pandit Nehru gets RI's award

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has conferred the Bintang Republik
Adipurna award for meritorious services on the late Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, for his strong
support during Indonesia's independence struggle 50 years ago.

The Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement that
the award was presented by Ambassador Adolf Sahala Rajagukguk
during a ceremony at the Wisma Duta on Dec. 12.

Accepting the award was Sonia Gandhi, the wife of the late
Rajiv Gandhi, who was Nehru's grandson and who also served as
prime minister of India.

Ambassador Rajagukguk also presented Bintang Jasa Utama awards
to Biju Patnaik, a former chief minister of Orissa, and Mohammad
Yunus and P.R.S. Mani, both former consuls of India in Indonesia.

The awards were given to Indian leaders who provided moral and
diplomatic supports during the critical period of Indonesia's
struggle after the country proclaimed its independence on Aug.
17, 1945, according to the embassy statement.

The decision to confer the award was signed by President
Soeharto in a decree dated Aug. 7, which apart from recognizing
their "extraordinary services" to Indonesia's independence
struggle also underlined the contribution the recipients made
towards enhancing cooperation between Indonesia and India.

Ambassador Rajagukguk in his speech also underlined the
contribution India gave to help Indonesia consolidate the
independence it just proclaimed and expressed his hope that the
two countries could continue to forge and strengthen the existing
close ties.

The award giving ceremony was also attended by India's State
Minister of Foreign Affairs R.L. Bhatia and a number of member of
parliaments and senior India government officials, the embassy
said. (emb)