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(New York) -- Human Rights Watch today called on the Indonesian government to launch a thorough and impartial investigation into the killing of Dayan Dawood, the rector of Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh. The American-trained Prof. Dawood, fifty-five, was shot by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle in broad daylight on Thursday in the center of town as he was heading back from the campus in his official car.

"We condemn this senseless murder, and call on President Megawati to do everything in her power to ensure the perpetrators are found and brought to justice," said Sidney Jones, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "Unfortunately, justice in Aceh is an exceedingly rare commodity."

The murder took place two days before Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia's new president, is scheduled to visit the violence-wracked province.

The killing came just after Prof. Dawood had offered to have the university play a more prominent role in seeking a solution to the armed conflict in Aceh between Indonesian forces and pro-independence guerrillas of the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka or GAM). Days before the killing, on Monday, September 4, 2001, on the occasion of Syiah Kuala University's fortieth anniversary, Prof. Dawood praised existing dialogue efforts but said it might be time to turn to the university campus to come up with a new concept for peace.

Both the military and GAM forces have been responsible for political assassinations in Aceh, and both sides have accused each other in Prof. Dawood's murder.

"The killing represents not only the loss of a respected intellectual leader -- it means another major blow to civil society and fundamental freedoms in Aceh," said Jones. "People were already fearful of speaking out on any subject that could be misconstrued by either side; this murder is going to make them terrified."

Jones called on the government to immediately appoint a neutral commission of inquiry to look into the killing whose impartiality and competence would not be open to question. She also urged heads of state and other international officials who meet with President Megawati to raise the case directly with her.

On September 17, Megawati leaves Indonesia for visits to Bosnia, the United States, and Japan.

There are conflicting accounts of possible motives for the killing. GAM has denied responsibility, saying that GAM only targets Indonesian security forces. GAM, however, is also known to have targeted other individuals it believes to be linked to the government. On the other hand, many in Banda Aceh have raised questions about how the killing of such a prominent figure as Prof. Dawood could take place on the streets of the provincial capital, less than half a kilometer from the governor's office, without the complicity of military elements. Banda Aceh currently is swarming with troops as security forces prepare for the presidential visit.

Human Rights Watch last met with Prof. Dawood in December 2000. At the time, he had been frank about the risk to his own life. He noted how GAM was demanding money and borrowing vehicles belonging to his staff and making threats if they did not get what they wanted. The demands for payment had been going on since mid-2000. He said he had been asked for Rp.200 million (then about US $20,000), and other senior staff for Rp.20 million (US $2,000). The demands came in the form of a letter signed by the district commander for GAM. He did not say whether he had paid, but he did say that if he did not, he would be a target of GAM, and if he did, he would be considered pro-GAM by the army. He was clearly afraid of both sides. This is not the first assassination of a major academic leader in Aceh. On September 16, 2000, Prof. Safwan Idris, the rector of the ar-Raniry State Islamic Institute (IAIN) in Banda Aceh and a close friend of Prof. Dawood, was murdered at his home, also by men on a motorcycle. The murder remains unsolved to this day, and each side has accused the other of responsibility.

Prof. Dawood's killing is the second high-profile political murder in Aceh in less than a week. On Saturday, Zaini Sulaiman, a member of the Aceh provincial parliament representing the United Development Party (PPP), was killed at his home following evening prayers by men who had come to his front door. Both sides have denied any role in that murder as well.

Prof. Dawood's murder also comes at a time when teachers and schools are under particular attack. On Monday, the head of the Indonesian Teachers' Association in Aceh announced that 135 elementary, junior high, and high school teachers had been victims of violence over the last two years. In August 2001, as Indonesia's national day approached, more than fifty elementary schools were burned to the ground in North Aceh and Aceh Besar districts.

Prof. Dawood leaves a wife and three children. He received his M.A. from the University of Hawaii.

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