Reflection Twelve Years of Peace After The Aceh Conflict

One of conflicts that occurred in Indonesia is the conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the Republic of Indonesia, where the conflict has taken victims tens of thousands of victims, both casualties and material victims. The Aceh conflict occurred between 1976 - 2005. The aim of the conflict was to demand Aceh's independence from Indonesia. The Free Aceh Movement is a separatist organization founded by Prof. Teungku Muhammad Hasan di Tiro in 1976. This seperatist organization was established to seek Free Aceh out of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and to establish own unitary state. This movement is also known as Aceh Sumatera National Liberation Front (ASNLF).

Reflection 12 year MoU Helsinki

Background Conflict Between Aceh - Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (ASNLF)

In general, the Aceh conflict is Triggered by cultural differences between Aceh and other parts of Indonesia and many secular policies in administration under President Soeharto in the New Order era. Indonesia Government policy during the New Order period was strongly disliked by the people and leaders of Aceh, as the Indonesian government only promoted an "Indonesian culture". Then among the people of Aceh came the assumption that leaders in Jakarta do not understand and pay attention to the problems of Aceh and not sympathetic to the needs and customs in Aceh.
The tendency of the centralize system Soeharto government and many other problems ultimately motivatid the Acehnese, Prof. Teungku Muhammad Hasan di Tiro to establish the Free Aceh Movement which was often called 'GAM' at 4 December 1976 and proclaimed Aceh's independence.
The main cause of this conflict is is the culture of the Indonesian government which is considered "neo-colonial", and the increasing number of transmigrants from Java to Aceh province and government injustice in distributing income from natural resources taken from Aceh.

Starting from the disappointment of a group of Acehnese intellectuals to the development model in Aceh. It is related to governance under the leadership of the Javanese. The aceh intellectual group argued that there had been a Javanese colonialization to the people of Aceh and natural resources of Aceh. To get support from all societies and youth, as well as religious leaders in Aceh, Teungku Muhammad Hasan di Tiro made the idea of anti-colonialization of Java. The idea of Prof. Teungku Muhammad Hasan di Tiro culminated after the New Order government explored natural gas and petroleum resources in North Aceh in the early 1970s.

Beside, the Free Aceh Movement is strengthened with the support of Darul Islam leaders in Aceh who have not been resolved completely in the old order era. And there were some Figures of DII / TII who failed to rebel in Aceh against the Indonesian government, feeling that by providing support to GAM, Aceh would later be able to gain independence and freedom from the Indonesian state.

The Helsinki MoU To End Conflict of Free Aceh Movement and Government of Indonesia

After the earthquake and Tsunami of Aceh that occurred at December 26, 2004 which Grabbed approximately 300 thousand casualties and property within 30 minutes duration. After a few months after the disaster, at 15 August 2005, a peace treaty was signed between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement. The text of the Peace Agreement between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement is called the Helsinki MoU. The signing took place in Helsinki, Finland, on August 15, 2005. The originator of the peace talks was Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla. And Jusuf Kala also showed Hamid Awaluddin as coordinator of the negotiator representing the Government of Indonesia. The GAM negotiator coordinator was represented by Malik Mahmud Al Haytar.

The dialogue to end the peace began in early 2005 who mediated by Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland. He heads the Crisis Management Initiative. Mou Helsinki is to end the conflict that occurred for almost 32 years between Aceh and the Government of Indonesia. Then the points of Mou are set forth in Law No. 11/2006 about the Government of Aceh.

The 12th Anniversary of MoU Helsinki By Former Free Aceh Movement

Documentation of MoU Helsinki

Today, monday (15/8/2017), Hundreds of former GAM combatants together with the community in Aceh held a zikir and prayer activity to commemorating the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki MoU. In addition, former combatants also make a charity to orphans.
The joint prayer and zikir activity held today is not to open the old post-conflict wounds, but to take care of the peace that has so far been well preserved. No more Acehnese want conflict, as it has been, today's momentum is to invite all the people of Aceh to keep, nurture and fill this peace with positive activities.

The points of the MoU Helsinki