20 Years of the Helsinki MoU, the DPR reminds Aceh Peace must be maintained with the fulfillment of promises

Member of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra Faction, Azis Subekti, reminded that Aceh's peace must be maintained by fulfilling promises since the Helsinki memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on August 15, 2005.

According to him, the 20th anniversary of peace should not only be a symbol but how the state is present for Aceh as part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Twenty years after the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, Aceh has proven that peace is the right choice. The weapons have long been silent, social life is slowly recovering, and development is going more openly. However, the commemoration of two decades of peace should not stop at ceremonies and historical nostalgia. It should be a space for mutual reflection: to what extent has the state really kept its promise to the people of Aceh?," said Azis Subekti in his statement, Monday, December 29.

Azis reminded that Aceh's peace was not just a past event, but a political and moral promise of the country. According to Azis, Aceh is a national asset whose value far exceeds security stability.

"Peace will only be truly solid if accompanied by a sense of justice and well-being that is felt directly by the people. Without it, peace risks becoming formal, calm on the surface, but harboring unspoken anxieties," he said.

Members of Commission II of the DPR who deal with domestic governance assessed that the statement of the Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf (Mualem) who said that the realization of the central government's commitment had only reached about 35 percent should be read as an honest voice in the field, not just a political complaint. Especially regarding the fulfillment of land for former combatants, this problem continues to recur because the bureaucracy returns to the starting point every time there is a change of leadership in the ministry.

"In this protracted process, those who should have recovered their lives the fastest are the ones who feel the impact the most," explained Azis.

In addition, continued Azis, the incident of the raising of the moon star flag which was later disciplined by the TNI apparatus should also be read with a more empathetic lens. It is not merely a matter of symbols, but an expression of social anxiety that has not been fully addressed.

"History of many post-conflict regions shows that when welfare is left behind, symbols often become the last language to convey feelings of disappointment," he said.

Therefore, Azis emphasized that maintaining Aceh's peace is not enough with a security approach. The state needs to be more human through a consistent and equitable welfare approach.

Azis emphasized that the economic integration of former combatants through land certainty, jobs, and decent livelihoods is not merely an administrative obligation, but the main foundation for long-term peace.

"Those who feel they have a future will be the most sincere peacekeepers," he said.

In this context, Azis said, the government of President Prabowo Subianto has an important momentum to complete the historical homework. Completing the details of the Helsinki MoU that is pending is not only about Aceh, but also about the presence of the state in fulfilling its promises to its citizens.

"A country that keeps its promises will grow trust; on the other hand, promises that continue to be delayed will only leave an emotional distance between the people and the government," said the Gerindra legislator from the Central Java District.

In the end, continued Azis, peace is not something that is completed in one generation or one treaty document. Peace is a long process that requires patience, consistency, and empathy from the state to its people.

"Aceh has chosen the path of peace and loyalty to the Republic of Indonesia. Now, the task of the state is to ensure that this choice does not end in a sense of waiting, but rather results in prosperity," he said.

"Maintaining the peace of Aceh means taking care of human dignity within it - and that is the true measure of a state that is present and responsible," said Azis.