President awards former military chiefs medals of merit

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday conferred medals of merit on a number of former military chiefs for their outstanding services to the country.

The award ceremony took place at the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, with Vice President Boediono and a number of United Indonesia Cabinet II ministers in attendance, Antara reported.

Former TNI chief General (ret) Djoko Santoso was awarded a Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana medal of merit.

Other Bintang Mahaputra Utama medals of merit went to former army chiefs of staff General (ret) Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo and General (ret) George Toisutta, former navy chiefs of staff Admiral (ret) Achmad Sutjipto, Admiral (ret) Sumardjono, Admiral (ret) Indroko Sastrowiryono and former air force chiefs of staff Marshal (ret) Herman Prayitno and Marshal (ret) Subandrio.

Also present at the event were TNI Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, Army Chief of Staff General Pramono Edhie Wibowo, Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Soeparno, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Imam Sufaat and National Police chief General Timur Pradopo.

The medals of merit were granted based on Presidential Decree No. 91/ 2011.