More school buildings burned in Aceh

More school buildings burned in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: An Indonesian Military spokesman accused
members of rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of burning a
school building in Bunie, Pidie regency here on Monday.

Lt. Col. Asep Sapari, the spokesman of the Indonesian Military
(TNI) operation command in Aceh, said that the incident occurred
on Sunday night, which sparked fear among local residents.

After witnessing the school building being set on fire by
several armed men, the residents immediately contacted soldiers
assigned at the nearest TNI outpost to put out the fire. A group
of TNI soldiers then descended on the school building in search
of GAM members, said Asep.

When they arrived there, the school had already been vacated.

Last year hundreds of schools were burned down on May 19, only
a day before TNI imposed martial law in the troubled province of
Aceh.

TNI also accused GAM of arson at that time. -- Antara