President Asks For Immediate Implementation Of Veteran Law

Jakarta, Oct 9 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he wanted immediate implementation of the Law on Veterans to guarantee the rights of all veterans. When giving directives at a congress of Indonesian veterans here on Tuesday, Yudhoyono said the agency in charge of the veteran affairs should speed up drafting implementation regulations of e the law either in the form of government regulation or presidential decree. The law on veterans was signed by the president on Oct 5 , 2012 to coincide with the Armed Forces Day. "All this is a reflection of love, gratitude and appreciations for the veterans . I always call for prudence to be capable of turning back to see the past and saying thanks," he said. Under the Indonesian Law veterans there are a number of categories for veterans including veterans fighting for the country`s independence, those fighting to defend the independence, those fighting for peace and posthumous veterans, widows and children of veterans. Each of the category is entitled to honorary allowance and right to be buried at a hero cemetery with the exception of veterans for peace, Yudhoyono said. He said the signing of the veteran law on 5 October in 2012 marked the government commitment to guarantee the rights of veterans. Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Association of Veterans retired army Lt. Gen. Rais Abin said currently veterans` associations in ASEAN has developed good communications.