RI medals for Aussie chrash victims

RI medals for Aussie chrash victims

Australian Prime Minister John Howard (far right) bows his head
as Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono puts a medal on
one of the nine coffins, watched by Governor General Michael
Jeffrey (center).

The coffins arrived on Tuesday at Sydney airport, containing
the bodies of nine Australian defense force personnel who were
killed in a helicopter crash while helping relief efforts on Nias
island that was hit last week by a massive earthquake.

Susilo gave the Satya Lencana (medals of honor) to the nine
personnel who died and two others who were seriously injured in
the crash, during a special ceremony at the airport.

"I once again convey my deepest sadness for the sacrifices
made by the brave servicemen," said Susilo, who was accompanied
by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and several ministers during the
ceremony held at the end of his three-day visit to Australia.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that the
granting of the medals showed that Indonesia would not forget the
sacrifices made by Australia's defense personnel.

Downer said that Australia was grateful that Indonesia had
honored the servicemen, as well as helping speed up the
repatriation of the remains. "The medal of honor given by
Indonesia is a sign that it will not forget the deeds of the
servicemen," he said. (Rendi A. Witular/The Jakarta Post)