Police Remove Insulation Post in West Aceh After Provincial Government Permits Local Homecoming

Illustration of a sealing post. (Ali Khumaini/Antara)

JAKARTA - The West Aceh Police Traffic Unit since Sunday, May 9, began to revoke all insulation posts at two border locations in the area, after the issuance of a rule allowing local homecoming by the Aceh Government ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijrah.

"We've started to revoke the post at noon (Sunday, May 9). Currently, we remain focused on carrying out Operation Ketupat 2021", said West Aceh Police Chief AKBP Andrianto Argamuda SIK represented by AKP Surya Purba, reported by Antara, Monday, May 10.

As it is known, the Aceh Provincial Government since Saturday, May 8, allows the movement of people between districts/cities in agglomeration areas, as well as allowing pioneer transportation to the islands to continue operating as usual.

The rules of acquisition of movement between districts/cities, he said, contained in the Circular Letter of the Governor of Aceh Number: 440/8833 on Transportation Control During the Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijrah Period in the Framework of the Spread of COVID-19.

AKP Surya Purba explained, according to the circular, the scope of agglomeration area used to restrict the movement of people is Aceh Trade and Distribution Centre (ATDC) based on the Aceh Spatial Plan (RTRWA).

He mentioned that there are six agglomeration zones or regions in Aceh that are still allowed to be served by public transportation.

The first is the Central Zone namely Sabang, Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar and Pidie. For the Northern Zone are Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, Central Aceh, and Bener Meriah. In the East Zone there are East Aceh, Langsa, and Aceh Tamiang and Southeast Zone, Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh, Subulussalam and Singkil.

Furthermore, the Southern Zone is South Aceh, Southwest Aceh and Simeulue, West Zone in West Aceh, Nagan Raya, and Aceh Jaya.

AKP Surya Purba explained, for land transportation trips both private and public in one agglomeration area and passenger boat trips and motorboat crossings are not required to show the results of RT PCR test / rapid test antigen / GeNose C19 test as a condition of travel.

In the circular, the governor also advised that the implementation of checks on the movement of people in the allowed areas must follow health protocols.

He also stressed that it continues to strive to create comfort to road users in West Aceh, and ensure the community complies with traffic rules and remains attentive to the implementation of health protocols by government rules, to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, said AKP Surya Purba asserted.