Nur Raihan, Banda Aceh – As may as 1000 students from the Ar-Raniry Darussalam State Institute of Islamic Studies and the Muhammadyah University along with hundreds of residents of Banda Aceh held demonstrations in three locations in the provincial capital on Monday May 17.

They were calling on President Megawati Sukarnoputri to sack Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh because of indications that he has been involved in a number of cases of government corruption. The demonstrations which began at around 9am, were held at the Simpang Limong roundabout, the offices of the Attorney General and at the Aceh provincial parliament.

Students said that Puteh was involved in corruption cases involving the procurement of a used printing machine and electricity, the government’s purchase of a helicopter worth 12 billion rupiah, the Ladia Galaska road project, PT Seulawah Aceh, Gema Assalam and the misuse of the provincial state budget.

The students also unfurled a 30 meter long white cloth on the main road and called on the public to put their signatures to it as a statement rejecting government corruption in Aceh. The students said that the cloth would later be presented to Megawati.

At the provincial parliament, a demonstration taking up the same issues was also held by hundreds of residents of Banda Aceh and Greater Aceh. As well as calling for Puteh to resign, they also called for martial law to be extended, even though the government has already decided to replace martial law in Aceh with a state of civil emergency. (nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]