Mahfud: Peace In Aceh Efforts To Build Indonesia In The Frame Of The Unitary State Of The Republic Of Indonesia

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that the peace between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government through the Helsinki agreement was not only an effort to stop violence, but also to re-knit Indonesian-ness within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Aceh peace in Helsinki cannot only be considered as an effort to stop violence that disrupts security, but also an effort to re-knit our beautiful Indonesianness within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," said Mahfud MD at the 17th anniversary of peaceful Aceh themed Aceh Peace in the Frame. Indonesianness at the Lemhannas building, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 15.

The Helsinki agreement is a memorandum of understanding between the Government of Indonesia and GAM which was signed in Helsinki, Finland, on August 15, 2005, which contains a statement of commitment from both parties to resolve the conflict in Aceh in a peaceful, comprehensive, sustainable, and dignified manner for all.

Mahfud explained that the awareness of the Acehnese people to become an Indonesian nation had emerged since 1930 or 2 years after the Youth Pledge incident in 1928.

This, he said, can be seen through the appearance of the word Indonesia in the Aceh folk anthem and other folk songs that proclaim the unity of Indonesia.

"Therefore, we are proud and touched to have Indonesia, which departs from inter-ethnic unity," said Mahfud.

Mahfud reminded all Indonesian people that the concept of nationality adopted by the nation's founders was nationality that did not eliminate diversity.

"Indonesian national identity is not based on one particular ethnicity, race, language, or religion. Indonesian national identity is based on ideas, ideas, and aspirations to live independently and to abolish colonialism in the world," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

At the end of his speech, Mahfud invited all Acehnese people to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.

Besides Mahfud, in the commemoration of the 17th anniversary of peaceful Aceh, a number of figures from Aceh were also present, namely Mustafa Abubakar, Sofyan Djalil, and Fachry Ali.

Next, there are several figures who played a role in the Aceh peace process, namely Hamid Awaluddin, Hasan Wirajuda, and the Finnish Aceh peace facilitator Juha Christensen.