Aceh conflict and school arson

Aceh conflict and school arson

It is as clear as daylight that an armed conflict will only bring suffering to the people. Governor Abdullah Puteh has warned all parties recently to end their armed conflicts, as required by the deal made in Geneva. One of the points of the agreement reached following the negotiations between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was the cessation of the fighting and a movement towards an all-inclusive dialog. "We are still witnessing the burning of schools and kidnappings, though," the governor lamented.

Earlier this week, for example, two more secondary schools in Guegajah, Aceh Besar regency, were burnt to the ground, bringing the total number of school buildings torched since the conflict first flared up in 1989 to 550.

UNICEF has provided 153 tents to allow students to continue their studies. How will these young people absorb knowledge while at the same time waiting for the shooting to break out?

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's order to the security forces to take resolute action in Aceh should be placed in the above context. As Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu has said, this resolute action will be directed against those wishing to secede from the republic. This may be interpreted as saying that the security status of Aceh should be changed to that of a civil emergency and, finally, a military emergency.

However, if those in charge of security think that the current government in Aceh can still work, the problem then must lie in law enforcement. Whoever causes trouble must be immediately brought to trial.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta