INDONESIA TO COMMEMORATE VETERAN DAY ON AUGUST 11

Malang, 23 Shawwal 1436/ 8 August 2015 (MINA) – Indonesia will commemorate National Veteran Day on August 11, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa revealed on Friday.

“The commemoration will be marked by a parade of veterans from Hotel Sultan to Jakarta Convention Center, among others. They will wear uniforms from the time of the freedom struggle,” she stated, Antara News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The commemoration is organized by the Indonesia Veteran Legion in cooperation with the ministries of defense and social affairs, she explained.

The decision to declare August 11 as the National Veteran Day was actually taken in 2014, but it will only be commemorated for the first time this year, she noted.

During a working visit to Malang, Minister Khofifah visited several veterans to greet them.

She affirmed that the government has always given recognition to former independence fighters and national heroes, adding that her office has provided Rp50 million to them every year.

Until now, 163 of them have been declared national heroes and have been awarded the title of national hero, she remarked.

Every year, before the commemoration of Heroes Day on November 10, the government bestows national hero titles on freedom fighters for their extraordinary service to the nation, through a selection and proposal process. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)