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)