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)