Keeping The Peace In Aceh, Indonesia After 20 Years: What More Must Be Done? | CNA Correspondent

Key Concepts:

• Free Aceh Movement (Gam): A separatist group that fought for independence from Indonesia.
• Helsinki Peace Agreement: A landmark agreement signed in 2005 that ended the conflict between Gam and the Indonesian government.
• Special Autonomy: Granted to Aceh after the peace agreement, giving the province broad self-governing powers.
• Dana Otonomi Khusus (Special Autonomy Funds): Funds allocated to Aceh to boost infrastructure development and reduce poverty.
• Inong Bale: The women's armed wing of Gam.
• Sharia Law: Islamic law implemented in Aceh, governing areas such as religious practices, financial dealings, and personal conduct.
• Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Formed to uncover what happened during the conflict and help the province move forward.
• Badan Reintegrasi Aceh (BRA): The reintegration agency set up after the conflict to provide economic assistance to victims.

The Aceh Peace Process: Two Decades Later

1. Historical Context and the End of Conflict:

• The armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) and the Indonesian government ended with the Helsinki Peace Agreement on August 15, 2005.
• Gam renounced its push for independence and disbanded its armed wing after nearly 30 years of insurgency.
• The conflict claimed over 15,000 lives.
• The 2004 tsunami acted as a catalyst for renewed dialogue and the subsequent peace deal.

2. Memorialization and Remembrance:

• Memorials like the park near PD center serve as reminders of the conflict's dark chapters.
• The site of Rumo Gedong, a former torture site used by the Indonesian military, stands as a haunting reminder of past violence.
• Khadijah, a victim of atrocities at Rumo Gedong, recounts her experience of being tortured.
  • "Di sinilah saya dikabulik, Pak. Dua kali dikabul listrik sampai saya hampir pingsan, Pak." (It was here that I was electrocuted, sir. I was electrocuted twice until I almost fainted, sir.)

3. Reconciliation Efforts and Challenges:

• The Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formed in 2013 to uncover the truth and promote reconciliation.
• The Indonesian government adopted a non-judicial approach, focusing on restoring victims' rights rather than criminal prosecution.
• The Badan Reintegrasi Aceh (BRA) was established to provide economic assistance to victims, but it has faced challenges in securing sufficient funding.
  • The agency has only managed to assist about 2000 victims.
  • "Oh, kemarin waktu saya masuk di BRA itu uangnya kecil sekali hanya R miliar sekian." (Yesterday, when I joined BRA, the money was very small, only a few billion Rupiah.)
• Tuku Anwar, a former Gam member, has not received the promised two hectares of land under the peace agreement.
  • "Di kedai kerung saya yang kumpul dana Pak, seluruh kedai kerung, sekemukiman kedai kerung, Pak." (I was the one who collected funds at the coffee shops, sir, all the coffee shops, the entire sub-district's coffee shops, sir.)

4. Implementation of the Peace Agreement:

• Only 30% of the Helsinki Peace Agreement has been fully implemented 20 years after it was signed, according to Aceh's governor.
  • "Inilah kecuaian pemerintah pusat kan Mdi tidak serius, tidak berapa serius." (This is the negligence of the central government, they are not serious, not very serious.)
• The Indonesian government states its commitment to fully implementing the agreement.
  • "Aceh bagaimanapun adalah bagian integral dari Indonesia." (Aceh, in any case, is an integral part of Indonesia.)

5. Economic Progress and Challenges:

• Aceh is rich in natural resources like oil and gas, but it remains one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia.
• The perceived economic injustice was a key factor in the rise of Gam.
• Special autonomy funds (Dana Otonomi Khusus) have been allocated to Aceh, totaling over 107 trillion Rupiah (about 6.6 billion USD).
• Civil society groups argue that the problem isn't funding, but how the money is managed, citing a lack of a clear roadmap.
  • "Kalau kita bilang roadmap kita memang enggak punya roadmap." (If we talk about a roadmap, we don't have one.)
• Lawmakers warn that without proper allocation of funds, Aceh could fall deeper into poverty.
  • "Jangan sampai ini hanya menjadi proses pembagian kue-kue aja." (Don't let this just become a process of dividing the cake.)

6. Political Landscape and the Role of Former Rebels:

• The Helsinki Peace Agreement allowed for the formation of local political parties in Aceh.
• The Aceh Party, set up by former Gam members, remains the most dominant local party.
• Muzakir Manav, the chairman of the Aceh Party and former leader of Gam's armed wing, won the Aceh gubernatorial election.
  • "yang kami harapkan ialah supaya kepentingan Aceh diutamakan." (What we hope for is that the interests of Aceh are prioritized.)
• National political parties have also gained ground in Aceh.
  • "Pada Pemilu 2019 dan 2024 ini sudah mulai tumbuh sistem demokrasi yang berimbang." (In the 2019 and 2024 elections, a balanced democratic system has begun to grow.)

7. Implementation of Sharia Law:

• Aceh's special autonomy grants it the authority to implement Sharia law.
• Caning is a form of punishment under Islamic law in Aceh.
• Many young arches embrace Sharia as part of their identity and moral compass.

8. The Future of Aceh:

• Arch's future lies in the hands of a generation born after the conflict.
• Young arches are increasingly focused on performance, inclusivity, and accountability.
  • "Kita sendiri kan juga mau pemimpin yang bertanggung jawab." (We ourselves also want a responsible leader.)

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video examines the progress and challenges faced by Aceh two decades after the Helsinki Peace Agreement. While the peace has brought stability, issues such as the slow implementation of the agreement, economic disparities, and the effective use of special autonomy funds remain. The political landscape has evolved with the participation of both local and national parties, and the implementation of Sharia law continues to shape the province's identity. The future of Aceh depends on the younger generation's ability to build a more just, peaceful, and prosperous society, addressing the unfulfilled promises of the peace agreement and ensuring that the benefits of autonomy reach all segments of the population.