Six schools torched in Aceh

Six schools torched in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Six schools were burned down on Sunday in separate places in Kluet Utara subdistrict, Aceh Selatan regency, with police claiming on Monday that the arson attacks had been perpetrated by an Acehnese insurgent group.

Indonesian security force officials estimated that the arson attacks, which took place some 500 kilometers away from the capital Banda Aceh, had cost the state hundreds of millions of rupiahs.

The torched schools comprised five elementary schools and a junior high school, including SD Simpang Lhe, SD Pantee, SD Limau Parut, SD Krueng Batu and SMP Kuala Batu.

"This is an effort perpetrated by the armed group to keep the local people in Aceh ignorant," the Security Restoration Operation's deputy for information, Commr. Miyanto, told reporters in Banda Aceh as quoted by Antara on Monday.

Miyanto added that an unidentified armed group had shot HM Yasin Ishak, a keuchik (village leader) from Keude Krueng Geukeuh village, Dewantara subdistrict, North Aceh regency, as the 50- year-old was having his hair cut.

Yasin was promptly admitted to Cut Meutia Hospital in Lhokseumawe, some 270 kilometers east of Banda Aceh. His life was able to be saved as the bullet could be extracted from his body. -- Antara