Students in Aceh sit final exams<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe\/Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Elementary school pupils in warn-torn Aceh crammed into mosques
\nand partially burned classrooms on Monday to take their national
\nfinal examinations, days after unidentified arsonists burned down
\nhundreds of schools.<\/p>\n
Students from elementary school (SDN) II in Geurugok,
\nGandapura, Bireuen regency, had to take final examinations in a
\nmosque, while sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n
\"It is really difficult to answer the questions while sitting
\non the floor, without a table or a chair,\" said Angga, 12, one of
\n35 SDN II sixth graders taking the examinations.<\/p>\n
SDN II has a total of 176 students.<\/p>\n
No security personnel were seen near the several burned
\nschools in Bireuen, a stronghold of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
\nwhich has been fighting for independence since 1976. Over 10,000
\npeople have been killed since then, mostly innocent civilians.<\/p>\n
Close to 400 schools, mostly in Bireuen and Pidie regencies,
\nwere burned since the government imposed martial law in the
\ncountry's westernmost province last Monday.<\/p>\n
In Bireun alone, at least 126 of the 232 elementary school and
\neleven of the 28 high school buildings were burned last week.
\nMilitary leaders blamed the arson on GAM.<\/p>\n
Students from Cot Pase elementary school in Peusangan district
\nin Bireuen told The Jakarta Post that they were afraid to go to
\nschool for fear of armed attacks during the examinations.<\/p>\n
Before the tests began on Monday, the students had to clean
\nout the debris in burned classrooms so they could use them for
\nthe examinations, which last for four days.<\/p>\n
There are 27 students from Cot Pase elementary school that are
\ntaking the finals.<\/p>\n
\"We are so sad...some of us were crying when we learned that
\nour school was on fire last Tuesday. But on Saturday, our
\nteachers informed us to keep on going to school because they
\n(teachers) plan to move us to Darussa'adah Islamic Boarding
\nSchool there,\" a student called Rahmat Hidayat told the Post.<\/p>\n
Murhayati, 55, the principal of Cot Pase school, said teachers
\nacross Aceh province had been urged by the local branch of the
\neducation ministry to proceed with the examinations. She,
\nhowever, could not hide her concerns over the safety of her
\nstudents during the tests.<\/p>\n
\"Since the military operation started here, we, villagers, are
\nalways worries because armed clashes can take place anytime.\"
\nsaid Murhayati.<\/p>\n
The government imposed martial law in Aceh on Monday in a bid
\nto rout GAM after efforts to salvage a peace pact signed last
\nDecember failed to yield the desired outcome.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Monday that 74 rebels
\nhad been killed and 20 captured since May 19 in the province with
\nthe loss of three soldiers and two policemen. Ten rebels,
\nincluding two local commanders, surrendered Monday, police and
\nwitnesses said.<\/p>\n
TNI spokesman Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said on Monday that military
\noperations against GAM \"will be intensified\", raising fears of
\nmore casualties.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, heavily-guarded truck convoys brought food, fuel
\nand other essentials into Aceh on Monday.<\/p>\n
Many truckers stopped plying the route between Banda Aceh and
\nMedan in neighboring North Sumatra province after threats of
\narson attacks on vehicles.<\/p>\n
Residents here claimed that GAM rebels were behind the
\nattacks, and food supplies have been dwindling, while costs go
\nup.<\/p>\n
Thirteen trucks, about 10 minibuses and several military and
\npolice vehicles including an armored vehicle left Banda Aceh for
\nMedan to pick up supplies.<\/p>\n
The arson attacks on vehicles continued on Monday, creating
\ndismay among residents. At about 3 p.m. on Monday, a truck and a
\nbus were burnt down in Kuta Blang district of North Aceh regency,
\nsome 40 kilometers east of Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the incident occurred just after a convoy of
\nsupply trucks, guarded by security officers, passed the area.
\nWhen the unguarded truck and bus passed by they were attacked and
\nburnt. No injury reports were available, and the identity and
\nwhereabouts of the attackers was unknown.<\/p>\n
\"We were told (by the attackers) to get down and go away from
\nthe location as fast as we could,\" a woman, who refused to be
\nnamed, told the Post.<\/p>\n
A similar incident also occurred in neighboring Teupin Raya
\nPidie district, in addition to several shootings reported in the
\narea, which consists mainly of rice fields.<\/p>\n
A vendor selling sugar cane juice along the road in Glee
\nGlungku village said that there were only a few vehicles on the
\nroad.<\/p>\n
\"If they do come by here, they speed up due to the empty
\nroad,\" said the vendor.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-in-aceh-sit-final-exams-1447893297",
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