Susilo honors reform heroes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As part of the annual Independence Day celebrations, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conferred on Monday medals of honor on four Trisakti University students who were killed on their campus during a demonstration in 1998, an incident that accelerated the reform movement.

In a ceremony at the presidential palace, Susilo said the country and the government acknowledged the sacrifices and contribution made by the four students to the reform movement, which put the country on the path to democracy.

"They (the students) were fighters of the reform movement ... Their sacrifices initiated the reform movement, which improved governance in the country," said Susilo.

The names of the four students were Elang Mulya Lesmana, Hafidin Royan, Hery Hartanto and Hendriawan Sie.

Aside from the four students, Susilo also awarded 29 outstanding citizens for significant contributions to the country.

Most of the figures, however, were former key ministers and officials during the Megawati Soekarnoputri administration, including former coordinating minister for the economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and former state minister for national development planning Kwik Kian Gie.

They have been invited to the official ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of independence on Wednesday.

Like last year, no one is being awarded the country's most prestigious medal, the Bintang Republik Indonesia.

Recipients of the Bintang Mahaputera Adipranada

1. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti
2. Kwik Kian Gie
3. Muhammad Quraish Shihab
4. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
5, Gen. Da'i Bachtiar

Recipients of the Bintang Mahaputera Utama

1. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu
2. Adm. (ret) Bernard Kent Sondakh
3. Air Marshal (ret) Chappy Hakim
4. Imam Utomo Soeparno
5. Azyumardi Azra
6. Julius Rijadi Kardinal Darmaatmadja
7. Ashin Jinarakkhita Maha Sthavira
8. Nyoman Suwandha
9. Abdul Karim Oei Tjeng Hien

Recipients of the Mahaputera Nararya

1. Darwin Karyadi
2. Abdul Qoyum Tjandranegara
3. Sutaryo Supadi

Recipients of the Bintang Jasa Pratama

1. Elang Mulya Lesmana
2. Hafidin Royan
3. Hery Hartanto
4. Hendriawan Sie

Recipients of the Bintang Jasa

1. Hembing Wijayakusuma
2. Luluk Sumiarso
3. Tien Ruspriatin Muchtadi
4. Wendy Aritenang
5. Hardijanto
6. Soekotjo Joedoatmodjo
7. Budi Santoso Sudarsono
8. Lukman Hakim
9. Anung Kusnowo
10. Abdullah Hich
11. Agus Utara Effendi