Destroying school buildings unacceptable

Destroying school buildings unacceptable

Since the military offensive was launched on Monday, at least 183 schools have reportedly been torched and destroyed in the restive province of Aceh.

We were informed that it was the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that was behind the destruction, but GAM apparently believes that the schools had been incinerated by the government to spread its propaganda to the students.

The tragedy has forced students, including those who were scheduled to take their final examinations, to give up their education for the time being.

Many of the students burst into tears upon seeing their ruined school in flames. Gone was the place where they prepared for their futures and developed their social skills.

The reconstruction of the schools will take anywhere from six months to a year, during which time the students' educational careers would be interrupted.

We don't have any idea as to why schools were targeted, but we do believe that not a single citizen in the country wants the younger generation to lose the opportunity to build their futures.

The destruction of the schools is obviously not to be tolerated, so we demand that the security authorities protect other schools from possible attacks.

The integrated (military) operation, including the humanitarian aid and law enforcement operations, must go ahead.

We do hope that the violence will end soon, and that security and peace in Aceh can be established.

It is impossible to develop the future without security and peace.

-- Kompas, Jakarta