More provinces in Aceh?

According to the memorandum of understanding between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) the borders of Aceh correspond with the borders as of July 1, 1956.

This means the entire territory is one province, officially called Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

This is a matter that needs to be addressed as the ongoing development in the province could hamper the peace process in the war-torn and tsunami-ravaged territory.

Since the fall of Soeharto in 1998, the number of new regencies, municipalities and provinces has significantly increased. In North Sumatra, for instance, the economically weak North Tapanuli regency has been divided into four regencies, although there are doubts over the prosperity of the new regencies. The establishment of the new regions means the emergence of more "small kingdoms" and "little kings" in the country.

It could be said, at least off-the-cuff, if the same spirit is alive in Aceh this comes as no surprise. What is wrong with this? Nothing, if the situation in Aceh is just like in other provinces, like neighboring North Sumatra.

Thousands of people attended on Sunday in Jakarta a rally to demand Aceh's partition into three provinces, with the new provinces being Aceh Leuser Antara (Ala) and Southwest Aceh (Abas). Ala would be made up of the regencies of Southeast Aceh, Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah and Singkil. Since 1999, political leaders in these regencies have been campaigning for the establishment of Ala. The House of Representatives (DPR) itself initiated a bill on the establishment of Ala in September 2004.

Meanwhile, the second province would consist of West Aceh, South Aceh, Northwest Aceh, Nagan Raya, Aceh Jaya and Simeulue regencies. The idea to establish the second province is comparatively new.

If the province were to be partitioned, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam would lose 11 of its 21 regencies and municipalities. The non-Acehnese population -- largely comprising people of Gayo, Alas and Batak ethnicities -- in those 11 regencies is substantial, They feel they are treated as second-class citizens by the Acehnese people. Unfortunately, the Acehnese feel the same way about the central government.

The House has reportedly prioritized the deliberation of the bill on the establishment of more provinces in Aceh. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is a staunch supporter of the bill as its leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, the country's fifth president, strongly shares the "doctrine" of the Indonesian Military (TNI) on the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

The establishment of more provinces in Aceh would weaken the position of separatists there but also test the territory's fragile peace.

The government itself, as voiced by the minister of home affairs, appears reluctant if not dead against the idea to divide Aceh into more provinces because it jeopardizes peace building there.

The demands for the establishment of two new provinces should be respected if the people are really of the belief that, with the partition, their welfare would be improved.

However, at this critical juncture, when Aceh is on the road to recovery from the Dec. 26 tsunami and from the decades-long conflict between GAM and the government, sidelining the idea to divide the province would be in everyone's best interests, to enable the people, the government and related parties to achieve a sustainable peace in Aceh.

We call on the legislators to demonstrate their statesmanship by refraining from expediting the establishment of new provinces in Aceh, because the House can endorse bills without the approval of the government, while the government cannot exercise the same rights.

The patience, wisdom and statesmanship of leaders in Aceh are also crucial in maintaining peace. If they think only of themselves in their hunger for power and money it is the fate of 4.2 million people that hangs in the balance. The case of Papua is a clear illustration as the people are now fighting among themselves over the government's decision to divide Papua into three provinces.