JAKARTA - The emergence of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was the result of the Indonesian government's injustice. Development centered on Java became its focus. Aceh wanted to separate from Indonesia. Armed conflict ensued.
What's remarkable about this conflict was that it wasn't resolved through armed conflict. It was resolved through negotiations: the Helsinki Agreement. As a result, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) granted amnesty and abolition to all GAM members.
Indonesia's Java-based system of government often brought problems. Regions outside Java suffered from the worst. The central government granted limited authority to regional governments. Furthermore, development was focused solely on Java.
This situation sparked social jealousy in various regions, including Aceh. The fruit of this disappointment was the emergence of GAM in 1976. Tengku Hasan Di Tiro (Hasan Tiro) was its pioneer. He believed that the Acehnese people could be independent—stand on their own two feet.
Hasan Tiro's concerns were echoed by many Acehnese. This situation sparked support and sympathy for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Acehnese flocked to join GAM. A surge of resistance against Indonesia ensued.
The long-running conflict, which lasted from 1976 to 2005, claimed a significant number of lives, up to 15,000 people. The high number of casualties made both sides realize that war was actually detrimental to both parties.
Both the government and GAM no longer prioritized resorting to armed conflict. Diplomatic tactics were promoted, aimed at achieving peace in the Land of the Veranda of Mecca. This agreement was reached on August 15, 2005, in Helsinki, Finland.
This peace agreement resulted in the Helsinki Agreement. GAM remained in existence, but its members were asked to pledge allegiance to Indonesia. They surrendered their weapons and recognized themselves as part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). This effort transformed armed resistance into political resistance.
"GAM's aspirations and efforts continue, namely toward self-government for Aceh. While GAM Commander in Passe, Sofyan Daud, did not use the term independence, it was apparently deliberate, as he did not want to contradict the MoU regarding the Aceh region, which was agreed to remain within the Republic of Indonesia."
"However, from its contents, the meaning of self-government can be interpreted as not significantly different from independence. Indeed, the MoU does not mention the dissolution of GAM, nor does it imply a limit to its lifespan. Instead, it can be concluded that GAM is assumed to continue, just as its negotiating counterpart, the Indonesian government, assumed, whose survival was not questioned," wrote a Tempo magazine report titled "Aceh Damai, Jakarta Ribut" (2005).
Amnesty and Abolition
Both parties attempted to implement the mandate of the Helsinki Agreement. President SBY immediately granted amnesty and abolition to all GAM soldiers. Amnesty is a pardon granted by the head of state to a group of people, while abolition is the removal of criminal convictions.
The amnesty and abolition were granted no later than 15 days after the agreement was signed. SBY welcomed the decision with joy. He wanted to see Aceh at peace. There would be no more narrative of wanting to separate from Indonesia.
SBY then expressed this seriousness in Presidential Decree Number 22 of 2005 concerning the Granting of General Amnesty and Abolition to Everyone Involved in the Free Aceh Movement. The decree was issued on August 30, 2005.
This meant that all political prisoners could be released unconditionally. This condition allowed all GAM soldiers to regain their rights as Indonesian citizens—social, political, economic, and other rights. They could also participate in elections.
SBY also emphasized that amnesty and abolition also apply to Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members who have lost their Indonesian citizenship. Those with foreign national status will also regain their Indonesian citizenship and receive pardons.
Amnesty and abolition may also be invalidated if those who committed crimes have no connection to GAM, or if they were involved with GAM but were still carrying weapons when the Presidential Decree was issued.
"Everyone who receives general amnesty and abolition who has lost their Indonesian citizenship and is a foreign citizen, or who is stateless, has the right to regain their Indonesian citizenship."
"If within a period of 6 (six) months from the enactment of this Presidential Decree, the person relinquishes his/her foreign citizenship. Or relinquishes his/her stateless status and chooses Indonesian citizenship, and declares loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila, and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia before the Minister of Law and Human Rights or another official appointed by him/her," Article 3 of Presidential Decree Number 22 of 2005.
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