Lost generation created by ongoing Aceh crisis

By Ibnu Matnoor

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Irfan Saman, 13, will surely join the large number of school dropouts in troubled Aceh, following the arson attack on his school, Teupin Batee Islamic elementary, in Idi Rayeuk, East Aceh, by an unidentified group on Wednesday.

Because of the arson, Irfan has lost his most valuable possession -- the free-of-charge education facility. It will be difficult for him to move to another school that offers the same service.

"I'll not be able to afford the school fees as I don't have any money," he said in grief-stricken tones at the Raudhatul Amal Orphanage in Idi Rayeuk, where 100 students live, on Friday.

Teupin Batee was one of about 50 school buildings that were burned down on Wednesday. Besides Irfan, nearly 750 other students are feared to face the same bleak future, due to the arson attacks.

Most of the attacked schools were located in North Aceh, with six in East Aceh, two in Banda Aceh and three in Aceh Besar, according to data from the Aceh provincial education office.

Jakfar Ali of the Raudhatul Amal Orphanage strongly deplored the arson attack. "We are still searching for a way out to enable the students to continue their schooling. I still do not know whether to move them to other schools or accommodate them in a temporary shelter within the burned building," he said.

Anas Muhammad Adam, an official of the local education office, said that he did not know who was behind the school building arson attacks. "Whoever is involved, this is a cruel act. An educational institution should not be the target of any armed conflict whatsoever," he said.

Anas said that the 750 students of the school would further hurt the troubled province, which had already been burdened with numerous dropout students due to the conflict in the area over the last two years.

Muhammad Ibrahim, a parent of one of the students, whose child's school building also became the target of the rampant arson in North Aceh, said that the burning spree apparently was done with the aim of making students in Aceh remain stupid.

"With a large number of dropouts, it will be easier for certain groups to utilize and coordinate them to do evil things," he said. Even though he is only a construction worker in Lhokseumawe, Ibrahim wants his children to continue their studies as far as university. "I don't want my children to have the same fate as me," he said.

Spokesman of the Aceh Security Restoration Operation Comr. Sudharsono accused the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group of being behind the acts, with the aim of preventing students from joining ceremonies commemorating Indonesia's 56th Independence Day on Aug. 17.

"GAM members ordered teachers to send their students home ahead of, during and after the Independence Day celebrations. They also threatened to burn the schools whose teachers did not abide by their order," Sudharsono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

However, GAM military spokesman Ayah Sifyan denied the accusation, saying that the Indonesian Military (TNI) were the guilty party. The proof was that the schools, which were burned down, were located near TNI posts, he said.

"Why were schools located far away from the TNI posts not burned down? We could have done it easily if we had wanted to," he said.

"Second, we know that burning a school building constitutes a large-scale punishment of local people. Our children go to school there, you know," he said.

Without accusing any particular party, Ibrahim Bewa, an education figure in North Aceh, said that Aceh is feared to face a kind of "lost generation," due to the existence of thousands of dropouts. (50)