Veterans visit Balikpapan

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan (JP): More than 120 Australians, including 38 World War II veterans, arrived on Friday for a visit to commemorate a battle that took place in this city fifty years ago.

"The visit is meant to commemorate the battle to liberate Balikpapan from the Japanese colonialists half a century ago," head of the Australian veterans' delegation Allan Hawake was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said the visit, sponsored by the Australian government, was also meant to commemorate the end of the World War II 50 years ago.

The delegation, which included a number of in-service soldiers and drummers, arrived at Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan on Friday and held a ceremony at an Australian soldiers' monument in the city on Saturday to commemorate the Australian soldiers who died in the battle.

Hawake, who is also secretary to the Australian veterans' department, said eight of the 38 visiting veterans were soldiers who fought in the battle.

"Some 280 Australian soldiers died in the battle to liberate Balikpapan," he said.

He said that the delegation would also visit Tarakan in East Kalimantan, where they would hold a similar commemorative ceremony, before leaving for Sandakan in Sabah, East Malaysia. (imn)