Aceh students disappointed by delay of new school year<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Thousands of students in war-torn Aceh arrived at school on
\nMonday only to learn one thing -- that the new academic year had
\nbeen moved back a week.<\/p>\n
An elementary school principal in Lhokseumawe, Nursinah Daud,
\nsaid the provincial administration had belatedly announced it was
\nextending school holidays to July 20.<\/p>\n
She said many parents had asked her to explain as the school
\nhad believed the academic year would begin in accordance with the
\nnational education calendar.<\/p>\n
There was no official statement explaining the delay, but
\nNursinah dismissed speculation that security concerns had
\nprompted the postponement.<\/p>\n
Some students had expressed enthusiasm about returning to
\nschool.<\/p>\n
\"There is no reason to worry about a possible security threat
\nanymore because many police and military personnel are protecting
\nus,\" Nur Hasanah, a student from state junior high school SMPN 5
\nin Lhokseumawe, was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
More than 500 schools have been burned down since the military
\noffensive against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) began on May 19.
\nThe military blamed the arson attacks on the separatists, who
\nhave been fighting for independence since 1976.<\/p>\n
The attacks forced 40,000 students across the province to
\nstudy in tents, mosques or government offices. Some of them have
\nhad to share school buildings and take turns using classes.<\/p>\n
In Bireuen regency, elementary school graduates registered
\nthemselves with junior high schools in secure areas for the sake
\nof security.<\/p>\n
Junior high school SMPN 3 Jeumpa deputy principal Jasmi said
\nhis school would have to admit 350 students, although it only had
\n240 seats available for the new academic year.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know how to cope with the excessive demand,
\nparticularly because two of our classrooms have not been
\nreconstructed after a recent arson attack. Parents of the
\nstudents insisted that their children have to go to this school
\nfor security reasons.\"<\/p>\n
Military officers on Monday began running civil affairs in the
\nparts of the province where rebels maintain a strong presence.
\nThe military said the move was necessary because GAM had
\nintimidated 13 civilian subdistrict chiefs.<\/p>\n
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh officially appointed six
\ncaptains, one second lieutenant and six first lieutenants from
\nthe army, the navy and air force to assume control.<\/p>\n
The officers had undergone one week of intensive
\nadministrative training.<\/p>\n
Suwarya told reporters that civilians would take over the
\nposts once the military emergency was over.<\/p>\n
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Yani Basuki said: \"The subdistrict
\nheads who are being replaced are those who fear GAM, and in the
\nface of threats from GAM these civilian subdistrict heads were
\npowerless.\"<\/p>\n
He said the 13 officers would in future report to the
\nprovincial and district administrations rather than the military.<\/p>\n
Apart from the operation to crush guerrillas, the government
\nalso aims to restore the government's authority over all the
\nprovince -- parts of which were effectively controlled by GAM in
\nthe past.<\/p>\n
At least 18 people, including three civilians, were killed in
\nthe province over the weekend and Monday, the military and local
\nparamedics said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, prosecutors urged military tribunals on Monday to
\njail for up to three years and six months two soldiers accused of
\nraping women in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The maximum penalty for rape is 12 years in prison and the
\nseemingly light sentence requests are likely to upset many in
\nAceh, including rights activists who accuse the military of
\nextra-judicial killings, rape and other atrocities.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors urged a court to jail First Pvt. Husni Dwila for
\nthree years and six months for allegedly raping three women in
\nPaya Bakuneng village in northern Aceh between June 20 and 22.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors also urged a separate court to imprison 1st Pvt.
\nAwaludin for three years for allegedly raping a woman in the same
\nvillage on June 22.<\/p>\n
Judges adjourned the hearings until Wednesday to hear defense
\npleas.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-students-disappointed-by-delay-of-new-school-year-1447893297",
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