Rector shot dead in Aceh

Rector shot dead in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): State Syiah Kuala University rector
Dayan Dawood, 54, was shot dead by unidentified people on his way
home from campus here on Thursday, just two days ahead of
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to the restive province.

Dawood is the ninth public figure/official to be shot dead by
unknown people in the last two years (see table).

Police have yet to solve any of the killings.

Ayah Sofyan, spokesman for the separatist Free Aceh Movement
(GAM), charged that the assailants must have been military or
police intelligence officers because all rebels had been forced
out of Banda Aceh prior to the planned visit of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri to Aceh on Saturday.

"Banda Aceh and its surrounding areas are now 'sterile'
(before Megawati's visit)," he told The Jakarta Post

Dawood and the chairman of Aceh's branch of the Muhammadiyah
Muslim organization, Tengku Imam Suja', had earlier offered this
week to mediate a dialog between GAM and the Indonesian
government. GAM totally rejected the offer.

Eyewitnesses, who asked for anonymity, said that the victim
had left the campus in his car, driven by Misran, when two
unidentified men on a motorcycle approached the car from the
left.

"Two gunshots were heard. And the driver, apparently aware of
the shooting, rushed the victim to Zainoel Abidin General
Hospital, which is only 300 meters from the accident site," a
local said.

The shooting took place at 2:50 p.m. on Jl. Teuku HM Daud
Beureuh, only 200 meters from City Hall.

The car had traveled about half of the eight-kilometer
distance from the campus to the victim's residence in the Ateuk
Pahlawan area, which is located around two kilometers south of
Banda Aceh.

The bullets were apparently fired through the rear window and
hit the victim in the left cheek.

Hospital staff member Sayed Ishak confirmed that the surgeons
found two gunshot wounds in the victim's head and chest. "The
team of surgeons had failed to save him. He died around 30
minutes after his arrival at the hospital."

Spokesman for the police's Aceh Law and Order Operation Adj.
Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo confirmed by phone from Banda Aceh that
the attackers were two men on a motorbike.

"They most likely stalked the victim for some time. Pak
Dawood's driver, who survived the incident, is currently being
questioned at Aceh Besar Police station," the officer said.

Governor Abdullah Puteh, who was briefing local journalists
about Megawati's visit at his residence, was shocked upon hearing
of Dawood's murder.

He said there would be no change in Megawati's schedule
despite the killing.

Dawood, born in Banda Aceh on May 2, 1946, is survived by a
wife and three children. His eldest son, a doctor, had planned to
get married on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Dawood, who was chairman of Aceh's Golkar Party, was appointed
rector of Syiah Kuala University in 1995.

He is the second academician to be gunned down by unidentified
people over the past year, after the rector of the Banda Aceh's
Ar-Raniry State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN), was killed
in front of his home late last year.

Dawood's killing affected the atmosphere in the area. People
rushed home from their workplace, while groups of people talked
about Dawood's death and speculated on who was responsible.

"Transportation vehicles are operating as usual," one local
said.

Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung called the killing
barbaric.

"Golkar condemns the uncivilized deed, which is against
humanity, and urges that the government, especially security
authorities in Aceh, investigate the case thoroughly. To the
victim's relatives, Golkar conveys its deepest sympathy and
condolences," he said in Jakarta on Thursday.

"Those found to be behind the killing must be brought to
court, whoever they are." (50/rms/edt/sur)