JAKARTA - The people of Aceh were once dissatisfied with the Indonesian government which was Javanese-centric. Alias development was only focused on Java Island. This condition triggered the birth of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Armed conflict also occurred.
The Indonesian government did not want to hastily release Aceh. The feud lasted a long time until Indonesia and GAM began to get tired. Both wanted to make peace. The Helsinki Agreement was signed. As a result, the mandate of the peace agreement for the people of Aceh could wave their own flag: the Moon and Star Flag.
Development initiated by the Old Order and New Order (Orba) governments often causes social jealousy. The government at that time only prioritized development on the island of Java. All kinds of new infrastructure are only enjoyed by people on the island of Java.
The area outside Java Island did not get it. Social jealousy became more serious when the people of Aceh expressed their disappointment. Aceh was like a stepchild of the Orba government. Tungku Hasan in Tiro (Hasan Tiro) led the people of Aceh to form GAM since 1976.
The goal is clearly to make Aceh independent by breaking away from Indonesia. The people of Aceh are fed up with witnessing injustice. Support and sympathy for GAM continues to arrive. The people of Aceh said they were ready to pick up arms so that the dream of independence would come true.
Armed conflicts also occurred. The human casualties from 1976-2005 were not few. The victims reached 15 thousand people. An unfortunate number for all Indonesian people.
All Indonesian people, although they consider Aceh to be an important part of Indonesia. The government is asked to start changing its approach from taking up arms to diplomacy. Peace must be created immediately. Moreover, the people of Aceh themselves are having trouble because of the tsunami disaster that occurred in 2004.
The desire to solve the problem diplomatically was taken seriously by both parties. The location of diplomacy chosen was Helsinki, Finland. As a result, peace occurred on August 15, 2005. The peace was embodied in the Helsinki Agreement. Its contents make the people of Aceh very beneficial.
"Expensive costs are not only in the sense of finances. The point is about what must be sacrificed, which may involve possibly shaking the existing constitutional rules. The government in Aceh will be organized with a new law (UU), which will give many privileges to Aceh."
"Many of these privileges are considered by some people to be contrary to the applicable law. Extreme views even say that some of the rights granted are unconstitutional. On the other hand, the government considers that what was agreed in the Mou is based on the law," wrote in a report by Tempo magazine titled Aceh Damai, Jakarta Ribut (2005).
Flag of the Moon and StarsThe uniqueness of Aceh is present in everything. Those who used to fight through GAM were all pardoned by the government. However, this does not mean that everything smells of GAM is prohibited. Acehnese are free to use their own regional symbols.
The narrative is contained in the Helsinki Agreement. The agreement states that Aceh has the right to use symbols of the territory including flags, emblems, anthems. This means that the Moon and Star Flag popularized by GAM can still fly in Aceh.
The rules supporting the interests of the people of Aceh are also contained in Law 11 of 2006 concerning the Aceh Government. The content emphasizes that the Aceh government can determine and establish the flag of the Aceh region as a form of special treatment.
The narrative is in accordance with the spirit of Article 246 Paragraph 2 of Law 11 of 2006. Then, the flag issue was also explained in detail in the rules related to the Aceh Law in 2013. However, the Indonesian government considers that it has never received blessings.
The government is still trying to prohibit the raising of the Cross of the Star Flag. The government will take firm action if the Aceh flag is still raised. A thing that makes Aceh residents feel that the government is not carrying out the mandate of the Helsinki peace agreement.
Aceh residents tried to protest that the Aceh Regulation (local regulations) was in effect. The government did not respond at all in 60 days. This means that Aceh residents are considered to have the right to fly the Aceh flag.
"By not canceling it is the same as accepting it. And the authority to evaluate has ended so it ended on May 27. Thus, the legal product regarding the formation of this qanun, it has not been changed anymore. From the aspect of authority, there is no longer any authority of the central government to change it. "
"If there are sanctions, what are the sanctions? What is wrong with flying this flag? If there is no legal basis for such sanctions, what kind of sanctions will be applied, what are the legal sanctions, what are the power sanctions?" said Member of the Aceh Regional Representative Council, Abdullah Saleh as quoted by the voanindonesia website, July 30, 2013.
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