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