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)