Australia awards medals to 537 Pinoy peacekeepers

Some 537 Filipinos who served in the peacekeeping forces in East Timor received medals from an Australian-led multinational peacekeeping task force. The 537 Filipino officers and enlisted personnel had served in East Timor as part of the Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission to East Timor (PhilHSMET).     An article on the Australian Embassy in Manila's website on Tuesday said Australian ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell presented the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) medal to the Filipino peacekeepers in Fort Bonifacio. The Australian Embassy said the INTERFET medal recognizes members of the peacekeeping and humanitarian mission in East Timor during the 1999-2000 INTERFET campaign.   It added the medal was initiated by Australia, with eligibility extended to 16 participating nations including the Philippines.   "The award of the INTERFET medal is a fitting tribute to the efforts of the members of the Philippine Humanitarian support mission to East Timor. They served the Philippines with distinction, and they made a demonstrable, practical difference on the ground for the benefit of the people of East Timor," Tweddell said during the ceremony. INTERFET was an Australian-led multinational peacekeeping taskforce mandated by the United Nations to restore peace and security in East Timor.   It was tasked to support the UN Assistance Mission and provide humanitarian assistance to the territory.   “Our cooperation in INTERFET and in many other operations is a powerful symbol of our shared commitment to working together for the benefit of regional and international peace and security. Australia and the Philippines have a strong and longstanding tradition of bilateral defence cooperation, which we look forward to deepening further,” Tweddell said.   The Philippine government deployed three PhilHSMET contingents to East Timor to provide humanitarian assistance.   The contingent included doctors, nurses, dentists, construction engineers, explosive ordinance disposal personnel, agricultural specialists and mechanics.   Those present at the awarding ceremony included Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, former Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. (retired) Jaime De Los Santos and Australian Defence Attaché, Group Captain Craig White.   More awarding ceremonies are planned in the future. The Australian embassy said eligible personnel who did not receive medals may provide their details to PhilHSMET MPC Chairman Colonel Alexis Tamondong by email adtamondong@hotmail.com or to LT Efren Nero Tel 882-8422. - VVP, GMA News