Tradition takes pride of place in devoutly Islamic Aceh

Tradition takes pride of place in devoutly Islamic Aceh

Text and photos by Arief Suhardiman

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Perched on the westernmost tip of
Sumatra, Aceh is proud of its Islamic traditions.

With a population of 3.5 million, the province is one of the
country's most sparsely peopled areas. But the ancient territory,
which enjoyed its cultural heyday in the 16th century under
Sultan Iskandar Muda, retains the legacies of its past as its
main attraction.

Grand mosque Baitul Rachman, built with the help of the Dutch
colonial administration between 1879 and 1881, is in the heart of
the capital and remains it most outstanding landmark.

During its heyday, the Aceh sultanate was one of Asia's major
trade centers. Its territory covered the entire island of
Sumatra, part of Malaysia and a section of southern Thailand.

As a major producer of spices, it attracted traders from all
over Asia and Europe. Numerous foreign languages were spoken in
trade centers, such as the Kuta Raja harbor, now Banda Aceh.

Aceh, which together with Yogyakarta was accorded the status
of "special territory" for its distinctive religious, cultural
and historical background, is rich in mining and natural
resources.

Natural gas from Lhokseumawe, northern Aceh, is said to have
contributed an estimated US$2.6 billion annually since production
began in 1977. Most of the products are exported to Asian
economic giants such as Japan and South Korea.

Although some areas are increasingly industrialized, most
Acehnese continue to make their livelihood from the land.

Along the coast, fishing is the most common occupation.

With globalization an inevitability, tradition is coming under
assault in urban areas. Nightspots such as discotheques are found
in major hotels in Lhokseumawe and Banda Aceh, bringing with them
typical societal ills of drug abuse and prostitution.