KSP Dudung Speaks Out on Unrest Incident in Aceh
Presidential Chief of Staff General (Ret.) Dudung Abdurachman has spoken out about the unrest that occurred during the 21st Aceh Peace Day commemoration some time ago.
Dudung stressed that the incident was only carried out by a handful of individuals in Aceh.
“In my opinion, it was just a few individuals. The people of Aceh are loyal to the Republic of Indonesia. They exploited the situation — 15 August is Peace Day, but there were certain parties who took advantage of it. It was only a handful,” Dudung said when met at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday (17/8).
Dudung confirmed that conditions there are now conducive and the red and white flag has been raised again.
“It is already conducive. It did not take long before the red and white flag was flying again,” he asserted.
The unrest previously occurred in the courtyard of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh during a dhikr and joint prayer to commemorate the 21st Aceh Peace Day on Saturday (15/8).
The crowd raised the Bintang Bulan flag on the mosque’s main pole even though officers had asked that the flag not be flown.
The situation then heated up, leading to objects being thrown between the crowd and officers. Police dispersed the crowd using tear gas.
The Aceh Regional Police stated that the situation has returned to being under control and conducive. Joint personnel remain on standby around the location and patrols will be increased in several areas of Aceh.
Amid the situation, the government is also discussing a number of issues related to Aceh. Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas said President Prabowo Subianto has instructed him to coordinate with the House of Representatives regarding the revision of the Aceh Special Autonomy Law, which will expire in 2027.
Supratman said the government hopes that discussions on the revision of the law can be completed this year.
Meanwhile, the Aceh Government and the Aceh Legislative Council have agreed to consult with the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding legal certainty on the use of the Bintang Bulan flag. The agreement was reached in a coordination meeting of the Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum following the unrest on Saturday (15/8).