JK urges Acehnese to safeguard Helsinki peace

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla has called on all elements of Acehnese society to maintain stability and not sacrifice the progress achieved over the past two decades following the Helsinki peace agreement due to new conflicts. “The important thing is that the public understands that peace has brought progress and prosperity. Do not let what has been achieved over these 21 years be disrupted,” JK said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Saturday. JK, who is also an Aceh peace figure, highlighted the unrest that occurred in Banda Aceh alongside the commemoration of 21 years of Aceh peace. He assessed that the incident did not reflect the wishes of the majority of Acehnese people who have enjoyed peaceful conditions since the Helsinki agreement. The commemoration of 21 years of Aceh peace, which fell on 15 August 2026, he said, should have been a momentum to remember the success of resolving the long conflict through peaceful means. “Initially it was actually the 21st commemoration. It happened that the Helsinki MoU was signed on 15 August 2005, so now it has been 21 years. It was commemorated with prayers and dhikr at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque,” he said. However, according to him, the situation then developed after demonstrations and the raising of certain flags emerged, which attracted the attention of security forces. He said TNI and Polri personnel sought to prevent the situation from developing into open conflict. “The security forces, police and TNI certainly rejected or tried to prevent riots and especially the raising of flags. No conflict occurred,” he explained. JK assessed that the issue was more related to internal group dynamics in Aceh, not a form of rejection of the central government. He said there were some groups that felt dissatisfied with the leadership in the region. “This is an expression of displeasure and also the desire that still exists among groups, although small, but they can provoke the community there,” he said. He also highlighted the situation when the incident occurred, namely when a number of key Aceh figures were not in Banda Aceh. Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf was said to be in Kuala Lumpur for medical treatment, while Wali Nanggroe Aceh Malik Mahmud was also undergoing treatment in Penang. “So almost no influential leaders were in Banda Aceh at that time. Only the deputy governor and of course the police,” he said. According to him, over the past two decades Aceh’s leadership has largely been filled by figures from former groups involved in the conflict who were then democratically elected by the people. The central government, he said, respected that choice as part of the democratic process. “But perhaps there is dissatisfaction in this regard, so the incident occurred,” he said. Nevertheless, JK stressed that the action did not represent the voice of the majority of Acehnese people who want peace. He reminded that peace has brought many positive changes to Aceh. “The Acehnese people always want peace compared to the events during the conflict. This peace has brought progress, the people’s economy has developed better, freedom, education, and social conditions are far better than before,” he explained. JK also said that from the various statements that emerged, there was no visible rejection of the central government. According to him, the issue was more about dissatisfaction with groups or leaders at the local level. “There is nothing directed at displeasure with the central government, but displeasure with those who lead them themselves. That is what happened,” JK said. He hoped the Acehnese people could take lessons from the 21-year journey of peace. According to him, various rights and government support through special autonomy funds have provided great benefits for Aceh’s development. “This is a period in which special autonomy has been implemented compared to other regions. There are special autonomy funds, economic funds, and rights obtained that are far better than many regions,” JK said.