RI gives 'medals of honor' to chopper crash victims
RI gives 'medals of honor' to chopper crash victims
Agencies, Canberra
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced here on Monday that 11 Australian soldiers caught in a deadly helicopter crash while providing aid to earthquake-stricken Indonesian villagers would receive "medals of honor" from his government.
Nine Australian navy and air force personnel died and two were injured when the navy Sea King helicopter crashed Saturday on Indonesia's Nias island, the area worst hit by an 8.7-magnitude earthquake that has killed hundreds of islanders.
It was the deadliest accident involving Australian troops in nine years.
"Let me take this opportunity to state on record our deepest condolences and profound sadness for the tragic helicopter crash in the island of Nias last Saturday which claimed the lives of nine Australians and miraculously produced two survivors," Susilo said after talks here with Australian leaders.
"Our hearts go out to their families, and I want them to know that the people and government of Indonesia are grateful for their noble contribution in helping those who are suffering in Nias," he said.
"For their ultimate sacrifice, my government intends to give the 11 Australians medals of honor," he said.
The helicopter crash cast a shadow over Susilo's first visit to Australia, which has been hailed as a landmark in moves to improve the often testy relations between Canberra and Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the nine dead servicemen and women bodies were accorded a brief military ceremony at Sumatra's Sibolga town before being flown to Jakarta and then on to Sydney aboard an Australian Hercules C-130.
Following their talks, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Susilo laid wreaths in memory of the dead soldiers at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
In a note attached to the wreath, Howard wrote: "In memory of nine Australians who died doing the humanitarian work of their nation."
The crash forced the Australian navy to ground its fleet of aging Sea King helicopters Monday.
The navy said its remaining fleet of six Sea Kings would stay grounded pending an investigation into the cause of the tragedy.
"We've decided that for the moment, until we find out more detail about exactly what occurred and why, that we won't fly," Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt in Sydney.