Aceh therapy center lays dormant

Aceh therapy center lays dormant

JAKARTA: A therapy center in the North Aceh town of Sigli to help Acehnese cope with the traumatic experience of the war against Acehnese separatists was still unused three months after it was opened by a minister, said an activist in Aceh.

Farida Hariani of the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence (RATA) said on Thursday that the Aceh Crisis Center was built by the government to help Acehnese war victims.

State Minister of Women's Empowerment Sri Redjeki Soemaryoto inaugurated the center last February, she said.

"We were told to bring a number of war victims to the center for the opening ceremony by the minister," said Farida. "But they never received any counseling from the center. There is nobody at the center to help," she said.

Farida said that two women who were shot by a stray bullet in Sigli last year had also hoped to receive aid from the center.

Rahma Mutia lost her left eye when a stray bullet hit her about nine months ago. Farida said she needed another operation.

Radiah suffered from continued pain as she was shot in her back last year and the bullet had not been removed, she added. -- JP