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Saturday, April 23, 2005
*Note: Ever since the Emergency Military Operation in Aceh at 2003, news coverage has dangerous consequences.There are reports of news sources have been taken hours after being interviewed. The writer takes the liberty to give initials for Acehnese news source.
'A', a 20 something Acehnese, shook his head and sneered. "These GAM are crazy if you think about it. They're crazy enough to fight the army!", said 'A' slightly amused, while both of his hands on the steering wheel and eyes fixed on the road.We were on our way to the Banda Aceh city hall to interview PLN's (government owned electricity company) General Manager of NAD Province, regarding the 2 hour black out along the north coast of Aceh, on the 15th February, between 8 to 10 pm, following rumours that GAM was responsible for the black out. This was the second time, during my stay in Aceh, that 'A' took me to where I needed to go.
His subtle awe to GAM, made me turned my head and analysed the expression on his face. I muttered a weak yes, nodded and smiled reluctantly. Since the disastrous quake and tsunami, last December, he has been working as a rental car driver. The sudden surge of media interest, both local and international, has made several profitable businesses including car rentals. He was one of the few native Banda Aceh that didn't get hit by the tsunami.
At that moment, I realised the importance of peace talks between RI and GAM, in the midst of the Indonesian Government's and International efforts to rebuild Aceh. Now is the time to do what needs to be done almost 3 decades ago, when GAM first founded.It was never easy to fight geurilla movement such as this. The second informal peace talks started on the 21st February, at Helsinsky, Finland, ended last Thursday. It was reported that GAM agreed to have cease fire and willing to consider special autonomy under the Indonesian Government. Despite all this, conflict in the region is far from over.People of Aceh are still divided on this matter. Note that the writer has no incling on how divided the people on this issue.
The conflict had resulted in resentment towards Javanese dissendents. This resentment comes from the fact that Indonesian military personnel assigned to this region mostly comes from Java. However, it still lies dormant and hasn't erupted into a full blown racism. As with the young Acehnese, especially in Banda Aceh, they would go about their own business, doing what most twenty something male Indonesians are interested in, such as techno music and pirated dvd's. Trying to make a decent income for them to be able to get their hands on the 'western' goods, in the midst of the horrifying outcome of the conflict endured by their distant relatives in remote areas of the Aceh province.
'H' is another native Aceh driver, from Lhokseumawe, that I met during my time in the province covering the relief efforts. He has no reservation in driving me to areas considered to be 'black' areas, where engagements between military or law enforcements with GAM are frequent and unsafe for journalists. Whenever conversations regarding GAM come up, he shows disapproval for the suffering that the movement has caused the people of Aceh. But then, when the rumours that GAM was responsible for the black out, he offered a journalist friend of mine to meet with a GAM official living in the city of Banda Aceh. The meeting never took place because the military relief effort command centre, denies the allegation that sabotage was what caused the black out.
GAM is real to them. Government within the government, fueling patriotism amongst the Acehnese, against the Javanese colonisation. Unethical conducts by military personnel who are frustated because of overstay in Aceh, lack of decent income for themselves and their families back home (soldier's salary: Rp. 700,000 per month) only further the repression felt by them and longing for a government, by the people - for the people of Aceh.
As for 'H', the dual government and confussion of loyalty, is no longer an issue. Indonesia is a system inwhich they are able to provide for their family, and Nanggroe Aceh(Negeri Aceh ie Aceh Nation) is where their heart lies. The freedom to speak out on what they believe in, is exercised subtly among Acehnese and hidden underneath the Aceh native language. The devastation caused by the tsunami late last year, has given the opportunity for both stakeholders, Indonesia and GAM, to start over. For the Government, a chance to build trust and simpathy of the Acehnese by running a humanitarian campain. For GAM, to take part in rebuilding Aceh as a nation.
Bhayu Sugarda
*Note: Ever since the Emergency Military Operation in Aceh at 2003, news coverage has dangerous consequences.There are reports of news sources have been taken hours after being interviewed. The writer takes the liberty to give initials for Acehnese news source.
'A', a 20 something Acehnese, shook his head and sneered. "These GAM are crazy if you think about it. They're crazy enough to fight the army!", said 'A' slightly amused, while both of his hands on the steering wheel and eyes fixed on the road.We were on our way to the Banda Aceh city hall to interview PLN's (government owned electricity company) General Manager of NAD Province, regarding the 2 hour black out along the north coast of Aceh, on the 15th February, between 8 to 10 pm, following rumours that GAM was responsible for the black out. This was the second time, during my stay in Aceh, that 'A' took me to where I needed to go.
His subtle awe to GAM, made me turned my head and analysed the expression on his face. I muttered a weak yes, nodded and smiled reluctantly. Since the disastrous quake and tsunami, last December, he has been working as a rental car driver. The sudden surge of media interest, both local and international, has made several profitable businesses including car rentals. He was one of the few native Banda Aceh that didn't get hit by the tsunami.
At that moment, I realised the importance of peace talks between RI and GAM, in the midst of the Indonesian Government's and International efforts to rebuild Aceh. Now is the time to do what needs to be done almost 3 decades ago, when GAM first founded.It was never easy to fight geurilla movement such as this. The second informal peace talks started on the 21st February, at Helsinsky, Finland, ended last Thursday. It was reported that GAM agreed to have cease fire and willing to consider special autonomy under the Indonesian Government. Despite all this, conflict in the region is far from over.People of Aceh are still divided on this matter. Note that the writer has no incling on how divided the people on this issue.
The conflict had resulted in resentment towards Javanese dissendents. This resentment comes from the fact that Indonesian military personnel assigned to this region mostly comes from Java. However, it still lies dormant and hasn't erupted into a full blown racism. As with the young Acehnese, especially in Banda Aceh, they would go about their own business, doing what most twenty something male Indonesians are interested in, such as techno music and pirated dvd's. Trying to make a decent income for them to be able to get their hands on the 'western' goods, in the midst of the horrifying outcome of the conflict endured by their distant relatives in remote areas of the Aceh province.
'H' is another native Aceh driver, from Lhokseumawe, that I met during my time in the province covering the relief efforts. He has no reservation in driving me to areas considered to be 'black' areas, where engagements between military or law enforcements with GAM are frequent and unsafe for journalists. Whenever conversations regarding GAM come up, he shows disapproval for the suffering that the movement has caused the people of Aceh. But then, when the rumours that GAM was responsible for the black out, he offered a journalist friend of mine to meet with a GAM official living in the city of Banda Aceh. The meeting never took place because the military relief effort command centre, denies the allegation that sabotage was what caused the black out.
GAM is real to them. Government within the government, fueling patriotism amongst the Acehnese, against the Javanese colonisation. Unethical conducts by military personnel who are frustated because of overstay in Aceh, lack of decent income for themselves and their families back home (soldier's salary: Rp. 700,000 per month) only further the repression felt by them and longing for a government, by the people - for the people of Aceh.
As for 'H', the dual government and confussion of loyalty, is no longer an issue. Indonesia is a system inwhich they are able to provide for their family, and Nanggroe Aceh(Negeri Aceh ie Aceh Nation) is where their heart lies. The freedom to speak out on what they believe in, is exercised subtly among Acehnese and hidden underneath the Aceh native language. The devastation caused by the tsunami late last year, has given the opportunity for both stakeholders, Indonesia and GAM, to start over. For the Government, a chance to build trust and simpathy of the Acehnese by running a humanitarian campain. For GAM, to take part in rebuilding Aceh as a nation.
Bhayu Sugarda
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