Academic: Alam Peudeung Flag Strengthens Aceh Trade Diplomacy

BANDA ACEH - UIN Ar Raniry Banda Aceh academic Hermansyah said that the existence of the Alam Peudeung Flag, which was used during the Aceh Sultanate in the 17th century, could be used by the Aceh Provincial Government to strengthen the trade diplomacy route with Europe and the Middle East.

"In the sultanate, the Alam Peudeung flag became the identity of Aceh in crossing the respected world shipping lanes and their journey would not be disturbed because it resembled the flag of the Ottoman Empire," he said in Darussalam, Aceh, Thursday.

He made the statement on the sidelines of being a speaker in a public discussion "Reflections on the Natural History of Peudeung: Strengthening the Character and Leadership of Students" which was held by the Political Science Study Program of FISIPUIN Ar Raniry.

He explained that symbols that had been successful during the sultanate could very well be revived in strengthening trade and cooperation with countries that have historical relations with Aceh.

According to him, the symbol of Aceh's identity is not only reflected through the flag, but also through the values and heritage left by the predecessors who are an important part of the collective identity of the Acehnese people.

"The use of a flag that has been successful and known to the world in accordance with the literature and studies from various sources is the identity of the people of Aceh, without abandoning its nationalism," said a lecturer at the Faculty of Adab and Humanities at UIN Ar Raniry.

He said the use of the Peudeung Nature Flag would also strengthen trade diplomacy with the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.

"Why are these countries so potentially able to strengthen past relations, because there they also keep the Aceh flag," he said.

He also believes that the presence of the flag will certainly have an impact on other MSMEs that are involved in the manufacture of flags and various other symbols that are directly related to Aceh's identity.

He assessed that the Aceh flag, which has historical roots, is the flag during the sultanate, not the flag used after Indonesia's independence.

Vice Dean II of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of UIN Ar Raniry Muhammad Thalal added that the campus not only serves as a place to transfer knowledge, but also plays a role in shaping a better future leadership character.

"History should not be understood as the past, but as a guide for us to know our identity to determine the direction of a more advanced future. We are committed to producing students who are intellectually superior and have integrity," he said.