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Medals Of Honour For Brunei's Aceh Mission
By Lynn Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - Twenty two personnel from the Brunei Darussalam Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) have been awarded the "Satyalancana Dharma Nusa" medal by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in recognition of the successful accomplishment of their mission.

Brunei Darussalam's AMM team who participated in the mission from September 5 to September 15 2005, accomplished its mission through the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Helsinki, Finland in August 2005, comprising 14 Royal Brunei Armed Force officers and eight Royal Brunei Police Officers. Presenting the honorary medals to the 22 personnel at an Award Presentation ceremony held at the Pahlawan Hall in Berakas Garrison was the guest of honour, the Commander of RBAF Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awg Halbi Hj Md Yussof.

Also in attendance to witness the presentation were Commissioner of Police Pehin Datu Kerma Setia CP Dato Paduka Seri Zainuddin Jalani, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Dato Paduka Mustappa Hj Sirat, Deputy Permanent Secretaries at MINDEF and the Ambassador of the Republic of -Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam Mr Herijanto Soeprapto.

The Commander in his speech prior to presenting the medals highlighted that in the Defence White Paper and RBAF Strategic Plans issued in 2004 amongst all, underlines the force's desire to explore new dimensions, roles and responsibilities, to get involved in its pure efforts particularly those sponsored by United Nations before the end of the first decade - a new decade of the 21st century and to execute specific preparations and planning on it.

The climate changes, politics and national disaster that have troubled the Asean region have provided RBAF the opportunity, despite the lack of wider experience and their limitations from the point of equipment and human resources, to lending a hand to Nagroe Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia.

He further disclosed that the honorary "Satyalancana Dharma Nusa" medal was a medal of recognition given to armies of Indonesian National Armed Forces, Republic of Indonesia Police Force and civilian officers, who have accomplished the relief peace operation duties in threatened areas in order to keep the sovereignty and unity of Indonesia.

The AMM Team receiving the honorary medal "Satyalancana Dharma Nusa" is an honour especially -in recognition towards responsibilities shouldered towards the achievement of permanent peace in Aceh.

For Brunei Darussalam's AMM Team, receiving it apart from the honour and additional recognition gained previously as well as the appreciation, is more meaningful as it has upgraded the nation's profile and defence institution and its security in level with other world members that is bigger, more experienced and capable.

Yesterday's ceremony also saw the attendance of Service Commanders and Commandants, Military and Civilian Directors, RBAF Senior Officers and Indonesian Defence Advisor to Brunei Darussalam.

The responsibilities of the AMM amongst others are to monitor the demobilisation of GAM and decommissioning of weapons, monitoring Indonesian non-organic military and police relocation, reintegration of GAM members who are active in the community, Human Rights situation and provide assistance in this field and so forth. With the mission successfully accomplished, it has given space to the formation of AMM with a minimal number of members. Currently there are six members in the Brunei Darussalam AMM continuing with their AMM responsibilities.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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