Students demand end of violence

BANDAACEH, Aceh: About 3,000 students of Syah Kuala University and the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) here marched through the provincial capital on Thursday, demanding a halt to prolonged clashes between the military and pro-independence rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

The group said the fighting had paralyzed economic and educational activities and left innocent people dead.

"Forces from both sides have to put down their guns and return to their barracks," Muhaminan of Syah Kuala University said.

The students said a referendum was the most feasible way to decide Aceh problems. "We want President Gus Dur to comply with our demand," they shouted, referring to President Abdurrahman Wahid, who just visited the restive province on Tuesday.

Syah Kuala rector Dayan Dawood and his IAIN counterpart, Effendi Hasan, joined the rally which ended at around 2 p.m. local time.

In the latest violence here, security personnel shot dead two alleged rebels in the North Aceh village of Pante Lhoong and an old man in West Aceh village of Lagan Bubon on Wednesday. M. Daud, 60, was shot after ignoring a police order to stop at a regular road check, a red cross volunteer said. (50/51/edt)