Aceh braces for new challenges

Aceh braces for new challenges

BANDA ACEH (JP): Since the 17th century, Indonesia's
westernmost province of Aceh has enjoyed a reputation as one of
the most prosperous Moslem areas in Southeast Asia.

The region is often lauded as a place where Moslems have
successfully blended tradition and religion. For the Acehnese,
both elements are inseparable from their lives, what they term in
the local language Adat ngon hukom lagee ngon sifeuet.

But modern influences have begun to shake the established core
of tradition. The Jakarta Post met several experts in the city
last week to determine their views on the changing face of
Acehnese society.

Muslim Ibrahim, director of Post-Graduate School of the
Islamic Institute IAIN Ar-Raniry in Banda Aceh, observed that
changes were already present.

"It is a natural process in this globalization era," he said.
"Religiosity and secularism stand side-by-side in Aceh today."

Acehnese society in general holds tightly to both religious
and traditional codes, but he conceded that a shift had occurred.
"In the past, all community members, regardless of class, held to
the views. Today, some groups of people are starting to
compromise with values outside the existing codes."

He said there were positive and negative aspects to societal
changes among youths.

"I see that in urban areas, young people are now conducting
more religious practices," said the doctorate holder in Islamic
law philosophy from Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. "If we
visit a mosque in Banda Aceh or other cities in the province, we
may see a lot of teenagers praying, reading the Koran and doing
other constructive activities. It is very encouraging."

At the same time, some youths had embraced a "modern"
lifestyle often at odds with tradition.

"They have inappropriate perceptions of modernism, as they
only adopt physical aspects rather than its way of thinking,"
said Ibrahim, also one of the chairmans of the province's Ulemas
Council (MUI).

He said he haven't entered any movie theater or other
entertainment centers here, but he feels really concerned to
learn that more and more young people visit such places.

He also believed that television programs, both local and
foreign produced, were bad influences.

"What we need now is to build strong shields to curb any
development excesses which will affect the society," said
Ibrahim.

One preventive action would be to censor entertainment
programs broadcast in Aceh, he said, adding this was an issue
which needed more attention.

He said the province's censorship board, composed of
government officials, business representatives, scholars and
ulemas, was still ineffective.

Nurjanah, a teenager counselor, said the media could play a
great role in spreading information about teenage problems.

"When we had our own local newspaper, people began to read
news on youth problems," she said.

Some of the cases received coverage in the national media, she
said.

Family values in Aceh were undergoing marked changes, she
said. The urban middle class is growing, and the lifestyle of
this group is shaping their offsprings' physical and emotional
development.

Many middle-class parents, usually well-educated and aged
between 40 and 50 years, are more permissive in rearing their
children than their own parents, Nurjanah said.

"Sometimes they are too lenient in disciplining their
children," she said. "For instance, they often let their kids
stay out of the house until midnight."

They also tend to spoil their children with material goods,
often neglecting emotional needs.

This contrasted with villages where parents tend to be overly
strict and rigid in enforcing moral tenets, creating a perpetual
state of tension for their ofspring.

"Many juvenile delinquencies involve teenagers from rural
areas who come to the city to continue their education," she
added.

Freed from parental strictures, the youths indulge themselves
in taboo activities.

Ahmad Humam, a sociologist at the University of Syiah Kuala in
Banda Aceh, said youth problems were common to developed and
developing nation.

In developed countries, problems are more serious but there
are also well-designed programs to deal with it, he said.

"I keep wondering how a liberal country like the United States
consistently enforces minimum age restrictions for smoking,
purchasing alcohol and watching adult movies," Humam said. "But
in Indonesia, young people are often seen watching adult movies
at movie theaters. Some of them are also found hanging around in
discos, dancing and drinking alcohol.

"We may have regulations prohibiting young people from these
activities, but there is no strict enforcement from local
authorities."

The problems are seldom discussed seriously and systematically
by members of the House of Representatives. "It requires a strong
political will to deal with the youth issue. I hope that the
newly-elected House members will be more active and responsive to
youth issues."

He warned that the youth problems now emerging were likely to
increase in the future unless concerted schemes were implemented.

This does not mean that development should be rejected, he
said. "Historically, we were adaptable to any foreign influence.
It was the Acehnese who easily mixed with foreign visitors and
their traditions." (raw)