Soldiers get loyalty medals

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Army chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono presented in absentia ten soldiers of the 161 Wirasakti military detachment with Satya Lencana Kesetiaan medals, Antara reported yesterday.

Hartono was represented at the presentation ceremony by detachment commander Col. Tony Rompis. Hartono said the soldiers, who are part of the Udayana regional military command, have heavy tasks because their command oversees a wide area covering the provinces of Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.

"This area is heterogeneous and is prone to conflicts among social groups," the general said. (swe)