Acehnese kids all fired up by toy guns

Acehnese kids all fired up by toy guns

As peace takes hold in Aceh following the signing of the peace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement, the more than three decades of conflict has left its mark among the province's children.

On the streets of Banda Aceh, boys are now often to be seen proudly parading around with their toy guns (see photo), something that they previously would not have been able to do.

The children, normally aged between three and 10, have a vast variety of different types of "firearms", and carry them around in groups or use them to play war with friends. Many of them also carried the toys while visiting relatives and friends during the Idul Fitri celebrations.

Even children below the age of five have managed to "force" their parents to get them toy guns.

"I had to buy a toy gun for my five-year-old son as I couldn't listen to him whining any more," Latifah, a resident of Darul Imarah, Aceh Besar regency, said on Saturday.

Such toy guns are being sold by traders in Banda Aceh for around Rp 7,500 (75 U.S. cents) for a toy pistol and Rp 45,000 for a toy rifle. (Antara)