16,000 orphans need help in Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 16,000 orphans whose parents were
\neither killed or abducted in Aceh during a 10-year military
\noperation there need assistance in order to continue their
\nstudies.<\/p>\n
On Thursday Antara reported from Banda Aceh that the executive
\nof the Forum for Human Rights in Aceh, Abdul Gani Nurdin, said
\ninfants among the orphans also needed assistance regarding their
\nnutrition.<\/p>\n
\"From the Forum's observation in the regencies of Pidie, North
\nAceh and East Aceh, thousands of orphans have been found to be in
\nneed of adequate nutrition,\" Abdul said.<\/p>\n
He said the government's aid to families who were victims of
\nthe operations from 1989 to 1998 amounting to Rp 2.6 billion
\nwould soon be distributed.<\/p>\n
The funds would be used for scholarships, the renovation of
\nhomes and to support economic activities, particularly among
\nwidows.<\/p>\n
Abdul also reported funds received from the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) which reached Rp 60 million and another Rp 150
\nmillion from the Golkar central board.<\/p>\n
The funds from PAN would be distributed on Sunday to 100
\nstudents of primary to second high level, he said. Each student
\nwould get a one-year scholarship of Rp 50,000 per month.<\/p>\n
Several foreign envoys have visited the province since reports
\nof rights abuses in Aceh and have conveyed their intention to
\nprovide assistance, he said. The envoys included those from
\nBritain, Australia, Japan, Denmark and the United States, Abdul
\nwas quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile on Friday dozens of students from various campuses
\noccupied the grounds of the residence of Governor Syamsuddin
\nMahmud. They were waiting for his return from Jakarta. The locked
\ngate of the residence was opened by Aceh Besar Police Chief Lt.
\nCol. Tachya Hidayat when the approaching crowd swelled to some
\n3,000 students.<\/p>\n
They had demonstrated in conjunction with Human Rights Day
\nsince Wednesday, demanding thorough investigations into rights
\nabuses in the province and compensation for families who became
\nvictims of military operations.<\/p>\n
Students also demanded that informants for the military during
\nthe operations, known locally as cuak, be brought to a
\n\"transparent\" trial. They also demanded amnesty for all political
\ndetainees and prisoners captured during the operations.<\/p>\n
The Governor reported last week that the operations against
\nseparatist guerrillas in the westernmost province left 1,021
\npeople dead. The military's latest published data revealed 760
\ndeaths. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/16000-orphans-need-help-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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