Aceh camp holds mass wedding for displaced tsunami victims

JAKARTA, Sunday (AFP)

A camp for the displaced in Indonesia's Aceh province on Sunday held ceremonies to celebrate the mass wedding of 23 couples made up of tsunami victims, a report said.

The festivities, which included music and dance performances, were held in the tented camp at the foot of a television relay station in the Aceh Besar district on Sunday, the state Antara news agency said.

The head of the wedding organizing committee, Awi Muhammad Maulan, told the Kompas newspaer that 10 of the women getting married were widows.

"We are happy and thankful that the committee held our wedding reception," said Syekh Syam, 60 who wed Mariati, 34.

Syam lost his wife and children in the December 26 tsunami disaster while Mariati lost her husband.

They met at the camp.

Teuku Cut NYak Zahyani, 35, married Zorana, 31, who had taken care of him as he recovered from injuries he suffered when he was swept away by the tsunami.