JP\/5\/BATAM<\/p>\n
Acehnese migrants see better future on their own soil<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau Islands<\/p>\n
While many Aceh tsunami survivors were scared to return to their
\nhomes for fear of aftershocks and more tsunami, not a few
\nAcehnese living outside the province were instead planning to go
\nback, hoping to fill the void for trades that are now badly
\nneeded there.<\/p>\n
Many trades are now in very high demand in Aceh as a result of
\nthe tsunami tragedy that took more than 115,000 lives.<\/p>\n
Now, many Acehnese who had migrated to other regions seeking
\nwork and better lives, now see opportunities in their homeland.<\/p>\n
A native Acehnese from Langsa, East Aceh, Lisman, 35, told The
\nJakarta Post recently that he with his wife and two children, who
\nare currently living in Batam, have decided to return to Banda
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
\"Aceh has lost many people. I feel that this is an opportunity
\nto obtain a job that previously might have been difficult to get.
\nHopefully, the security situation there will be back to normal
\nsoon,\" said Lisman, who works as a fence welder in the Batu Aji
\narea, Batam, Riau province.<\/p>\n
He said that he will be flying to Banda Aceh in the near
\nfuture as soon as his belongings -- furniture, a motorbike and
\nwelding equipment -- are sold, as they are planning not to return
\nto Batam.<\/p>\n
\"I would probably do the same thing (welding) in Aceh, unless
\nthere's another better opportunity,\" said Lisman, who lost a
\nsibling to the tsunami.<\/p>\n
According to Lisman, the majority of Acehnese find living and
\nworking in their home province much more pleasant than in other
\nregions. Their native status will benefit them as they will be
\nmuch welcomed by fellow Acehnese in doing business compared to
\nothers.<\/p>\n
He said that he had chosen to return to Banda Aceh, the Aceh
\ncapital, because there are more opportunities there.<\/p>\n
\"As the capital of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Banda Aceh is our
\nfirst option. If the opportunity was no longer there, then we
\nwould move to another place in the province,\" Lisman said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the Acehnese Community Association's
\n(Permasa) Batam branch, Iskandar Alamsyah, said that there are
\n15,000 Acehnese currently residing on Batam, out of Batam's total
\npopulation of 560,000 people.<\/p>\n
Their jobs range from office employees to non-skilled workers,
\nsaid Iskandar, the area manager for Garuda Indonesian Airways in
\nBatam.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5batam-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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