16,000 orphans need help in Aceh
16,000 orphans need help in Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): At least 16,000 orphans whose parents were
either killed or abducted in Aceh during a 10-year military
operation there need assistance in order to continue their
studies.
On Thursday Antara reported from Banda Aceh that the executive
of the Forum for Human Rights in Aceh, Abdul Gani Nurdin, said
infants among the orphans also needed assistance regarding their
nutrition.
"From the Forum's observation in the regencies of Pidie, North
Aceh and East Aceh, thousands of orphans have been found to be in
need of adequate nutrition," Abdul said.
He said the government's aid to families who were victims of
the operations from 1989 to 1998 amounting to Rp 2.6 billion
would soon be distributed.
The funds would be used for scholarships, the renovation of
homes and to support economic activities, particularly among
widows.
Abdul also reported funds received from the National Mandate
Party (PAN) which reached Rp 60 million and another Rp 150
million from the Golkar central board.
The funds from PAN would be distributed on Sunday to 100
students of primary to second high level, he said. Each student
would get a one-year scholarship of Rp 50,000 per month.
Several foreign envoys have visited the province since reports
of rights abuses in Aceh and have conveyed their intention to
provide assistance, he said. The envoys included those from
Britain, Australia, Japan, Denmark and the United States, Abdul
was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile on Friday dozens of students from various campuses
occupied the grounds of the residence of Governor Syamsuddin
Mahmud. They were waiting for his return from Jakarta. The locked
gate of the residence was opened by Aceh Besar Police Chief Lt.
Col. Tachya Hidayat when the approaching crowd swelled to some
3,000 students.
They had demonstrated in conjunction with Human Rights Day
since Wednesday, demanding thorough investigations into rights
abuses in the province and compensation for families who became
victims of military operations.
Students also demanded that informants for the military during
the operations, known locally as cuak, be brought to a
"transparent" trial. They also demanded amnesty for all political
detainees and prisoners captured during the operations.
The Governor reported last week that the operations against
separatist guerrillas in the westernmost province left 1,021
people dead. The military's latest published data revealed 760
deaths. (anr)