Condemnation pours in on school burning in Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Officials and analysts have condemned the
\nburning of at least 50 school buildings in the troubled Aceh
\nprovince, saying that the attacks were committed by people
\nwanting to obstruct human resource development in the province.<\/p>\n
\"We condemn such criminal acts. Whatever the reason, attacking
\nschools, places of worship, hospitals and other public facilities
\ncannot be tolerated, as it only hurts the public,\" former
\neducation minister Juwono Sudarsono told The Jakarta Post here on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
He said that the arson attacks were committed by those who do
\nnot want to see the Aceh problem resolved peacefully because, if
\nsuch a process were successful, they would have no further role
\nin Aceh.<\/p>\n
He also reminded that there is an \"unwritten rule\" that those
\ninvolved in conflict should never attack public facilities.<\/p>\n
Any group attacking public facilities will only discredit
\nthemselves as the people will recognize that their actions hurt
\nthem.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to win sympathy from the public, they should
\nprotect public interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Education analyst Muchtar Buchori said the burning of the
\nschool buildings was committed by those who do not want to see a
\nbright future for the country.<\/p>\n
\"They want to see the nation go backward. They don't
\nunderstand the meaning of education,\" Buchori told the Post.<\/p>\n
Previously, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf
\nKalla said that the government would rebuild the 50 school
\nbuildings reported to have been burned by an armed group.<\/p>\n
He also expressed hope that the people would assist the
\ngovernment in preventing similar incidents from occurring in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"We will rebuild the school buildings. I hope that the people
\nwill help the government fight against criminal acts aimed at
\ndisrupting the development of human resources,\" Kalla said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, it was reported from Aceh that the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) blame each other
\nfor the arson attacks.<\/p>\n
Security Restoring Operation Task Force spokesman Adj. Sr.
\nComr. Sad Harun stated that dozens of schools had been burned by
\nGAM rebels during the last few days.<\/p>\n
\"The Aceh armed separatist groups have lost their minds. They
\nare frustrated because now the people of Aceh know who they
\nreally are. They ignored the group's ban to celebrate Indonesia's
\nIndependence Day,\" Harun said.<\/p>\n
\"We condemn the school fires,\" he said, adding that the
\nsecurity officers had uncovered evidence, including assembled
\nbombs, cable, fuel containers and batteries.<\/p>\n
GAM military spokesman Teungku Sofyan Dawod said in a press
\nstatement that the TNI and police should be blamed for the arson
\nas they had burned hundreds of schools in regencies of Each Aceh,
\nNorth Aceh, Pidie, Banda Aceh, West Aceh and South Aceh between
\nAug. 12 and 15.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly condemn the criminal attacks conducted by the
\nmilitary and police, which have destroyed education facilities.
\nThey must be held responsible for such actions,\" Sofyan Dawod was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said, however, that GAM would continue attacking security
\nposts across Aceh. \"Therefore, people should be cautious of
\npossible attacks,\" he said. (02\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/condemnation-pours-in-on-school-burning-in-aceh-1447893297",
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