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