More provinces in Aceh?<\/p>\n
According to the memorandum of understanding between the
\nIndonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) the
\nborders of Aceh correspond with the borders as of July 1, 1956.<\/p>\n
This means the entire territory is one province, officially
\ncalled Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.<\/p>\n
This is a matter that needs to be addressed as the ongoing
\ndevelopment in the province could hamper the peace process in the
\nwar-torn and tsunami-ravaged territory.<\/p>\n
Since the fall of Soeharto in 1998, the number of new
\nregencies, municipalities and provinces has significantly
\nincreased. In North Sumatra, for instance,
\nthe economically weak North Tapanuli regency has been divided
\ninto four regencies, although there are doubts over the
\nprosperity of the new regencies. The establishment of the new
\nregions means the emergence of more \"small kingdoms\" and \"little
\nkings\" in the country.<\/p>\n
It could be said, at least off-the-cuff, if the same spirit is
\nalive in Aceh this comes as no surprise.
\nWhat is wrong with this? Nothing, if the situation in Aceh is
\njust like in other provinces, like neighboring North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people attended on Sunday in Jakarta a rally to
\ndemand Aceh's partition into three provinces, with the new
\nprovinces being Aceh Leuser Antara (Ala) and Southwest Aceh
\n(Abas). Ala would be made up of the regencies of Southeast Aceh,
\nGayo Lues, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah and Singkil. Since 1999,
\npolitical leaders in these regencies have been campaigning for
\nthe establishment of Ala. The House of Representatives (DPR)
\nitself initiated a bill on the establishment of Ala in September
\n2004.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the second province would consist of West Aceh,
\nSouth Aceh, Northwest Aceh, Nagan Raya, Aceh Jaya and Simeulue
\nregencies. The idea to establish the second province is
\ncomparatively new.<\/p>\n
If the province were to be partitioned, Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam would lose 11 of its 21 regencies and municipalities.
\nThe non-Acehnese population -- largely comprising people of Gayo,
\nAlas and Batak ethnicities -- in those 11 regencies is
\nsubstantial, They feel they are treated as second-class citizens
\nby the Acehnese people. Unfortunately, the Acehnese feel the same
\nway about the central government.<\/p>\n
The House has reportedly prioritized the deliberation of the
\nbill on the establishment of more provinces in Aceh. The
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is a staunch
\nsupporter of the bill as its leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
\ncountry's fifth president, strongly shares the \"doctrine\" of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) on the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The establishment of more provinces in Aceh would weaken the
\nposition of separatists there but also test the territory's
\nfragile peace.<\/p>\n
The government itself, as voiced by the minister of home
\naffairs, appears reluctant if not dead against the idea to divide
\nAceh into more provinces because it jeopardizes peace building
\nthere.<\/p>\n
The demands for the establishment of two new provinces should
\nbe respected if the people are really of the belief
\nthat, with the partition, their welfare would be improved.<\/p>\n
However, at this critical juncture, when Aceh is on the road
\nto recovery from the Dec. 26 tsunami and from the decades-long
\nconflict between GAM and the government, sidelining the idea to
\ndivide the province would be in everyone's best interests, to
\nenable the people, the government and related parties to achieve
\na sustainable peace in Aceh.<\/p>\n
We call on the legislators to demonstrate their statesmanship
\nby refraining from expediting the establishment of new provinces
\nin Aceh, because the House can endorse bills without the approval
\nof the government, while the government cannot exercise the same
\nrights.<\/p>\n
The patience, wisdom and statesmanship of leaders in Aceh are
\nalso crucial in maintaining peace. If they think only of
\nthemselves in their hunger for power and money it is the fate of
\n4.2 million people that hangs in the balance. The case of Papua
\nis a clear illustration as the people are now fighting among
\nthemselves over the government's decision to divide Papua into
\nthree provinces.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-provinces-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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