Envoy Hosts Brunei Monitors, Aid Team
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Pehin Major General Dato Hj Awg Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof, said that when the numbers of collected aid from all international countries are counted, Brunei Darussalam’s assistance for the tsunami and earthquake victims is small, but it is very meaningful for Bruneians.
The people of Brunei saw the disasters that happened and felt the suffering that the Indonesian people are going through, as if these were happening to them, and this is due to the strong brotherly feelings between the people of the two countries, he said. He spoke at a _dinner to greet the return of the AMM and Earthquake Aid team who had completed their duties at the disaster area.
The commanders said the sultanate also observed the running of the peace agreement in Aceh by sending its Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) team.
Such strong and warm ties are not only amongst its citizens but also amongst the aimed forces of both countries, he said. The commander himself has been awarded an honorary title from the Tentera Nasional Indonesia (TNI). He said he hopes to see that the strong ties and cooperation long established between the two countries will increase in the future.
The dinner, hosted by Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Herijanto Soeprapto, was held at his residence last Friday evening. Commissioner of Police Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Zainuddin Jalani and Permanent Secretary at the Minsitry of Defence Dato Paduka Hj Mustappa Hj Sirat attended. Also present were senior officials from the embassy and members of the AMM and Yogyakarta Earthquake Aid team.
The ambassador presented appreciation certificates and thank you wishes to the members of the two teams. He said he appreciated the participation and assistance rendered by the Brunei government for peace in Aceh and the rebuilding of Yogyakarta after the earthquake.
He said since the signing of the peace agreement between last August 15, 2005 in Helsinki (Helsinki Accord), the situation in Aceh is conducive and appropriate lathe near future Aceh, will conduct an election to select a governor and a new governor representative in Aceh.
Yogyakarta is also recovering to normal even though there are still victims staying in camps because their houses are still being repaired, he said. He said he hopes that the strong relations between the two nations will be increased in the future. — Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin