Aceh's 20th Anniversary of Peace Tomorrow, Governor Requests No Flying of the Crescent Star Flag

BANDA ACEH - Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, also known as Mualem, appealed to the people to be patient and not raise the Crescent Star flag on the 20th anniversary of the Aceh Peace Memorial Day, which falls on Friday, August 15th.

"We hope you will be patient, because one day it will be raised (the Crescent Star flag)," said Mualem, as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 14th.

On August 15th, 2025, Aceh will have achieved 20 years of peace following a prolonged conflict. This peace was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki, Finland on August 15th, 2005, marking two decades of peace in Aceh.

The former GAM commander emphasized that all parties in Aceh are committed to maintaining this peace, with the hope that Aceh will improve in the future.

"We must commit to this situation. This peace is for all of us, for the Aceh we hope for: a better, more prosperous future," he said.

Mualem also hopes that this bicentennial will be a momentum for all the provisions of the Helsinki MoU to be fully realized.

"We hope that the outstanding MoU agreements can be completed," he said.

Therefore, Mualem emphasized that everyone should be patient (regarding the raising of the Crescent Star flag).

"So, for now, let's be patient and remain silent. Hopefully, that's how it is," he said.