Students demand end of violence

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)