Veterans deserve help: President

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on the nation on Wednesday to help veterans and their families who are economically disadvantaged.

Megawati said the veterans deserved assistance although they had never asked for it.

"It's only fair that we pay more attention to the fact that most of the veterans and their families have a difficult life," Megawati told members of the Association of Wives of Veterans (Perveri), who are convening their seventh congress here.

Complaining that the government did not have enough funds to provide social security for the veterans and their families, the President also called on well-off veterans to help their poor colleagues.

Also present in the event were former state minister for women's empowerment Mien Sugandhi and former social affairs minister Inten Soeweno, whose late husbands were former top military officers and veterans. -- JP