Aceh is a province located at the northern tip of Sumatra Island in Indonesia. Its people have a unique perspective on the world due to their history and experiences. Aceh was once a sovereign state known as the Sultanate of Aceh, which existed from 1500 AD to the 1890s AD. Unlike other parts of Sumatra that fell under Dutch control, Aceh remained independent until the Dutch East Indies eventually conquered it in the late 1800s.
During this period, Aceh had a defense pact agreement with the British, but they betrayed Aceh, leaving it to fight alone against the Dutch. The Sultanate of Aceh waged a war against the Dutch East Indies with armies originating from other parts of modern-day Indonesia. Eventually, the Sultanate had to surrender to the Dutch and move its government to Aceh Besar. From 1890 to 1945, a guerrilla war continued, and during World War II, Aceh also fought against the Japanese.
In 1945, President Soekarno visited Aceh and asked for its people's support in fighting against Dutch military aggression after the declaration of Indonesia's independence. Aceh voluntarily contributed gold jewelry to be donated to Indonesia. However, when Aceh was incorporated into Indonesia without the consent of the Acehnese people, they felt betrayed. According to international agreements, colonized areas must be returned to their original inhabitants, but Jakarta proclaimed that Aceh was part of Indonesia.
Although Aceh agreed to become part of Indonesia, President Soekarno failed to fulfill his promise to give Aceh autonomy and establish an Islamic sharia government. Instead, he incorporated Aceh with Sumatra Utara, which has different cultures, values, and ways of life. This created upheaval in Aceh, and a movement against the Indonesian government emerged, leading to a stronger resistance.
During the Suharto era in 1971, Mobil Oil Indonesia, an American oil and gas company, discovered oil reserves in North Aceh District and contributed approximately $1 billion per year to the Indonesian economy. However, the people of North Aceh and Aceh Province did not benefit significantly from this. Hasan Tiro, a resident of Pidie, declared resistance against Indonesia in 1976, returned to Aceh, and formed the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). He considered the government of President Suharto to be dictatorial and unfair to Aceh, especially with revenue sharing from Mobil Oil Indonesia, which only benefited Jakarta.
On the fateful day of December 24, 2004, Aceh was struck by a catastrophic tsunami that had far-reaching consequences, causing extensive damage and loss of life that affected no less than 500,000 people. The aftermath of this disaster left a lasting impact on the region, bringing to light the vulnerabilities of the people and the need for concerted efforts to mitigate the effects of natural calamities. In 2005, the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) reached a momentous agreement, ending a long-standing civil war that had plagued the region for decades. This marked a new chapter in Aceh's history, one that offered hope for a brighter and more peaceful future.
Currently, the Indonesian government's policy towards Aceh remains the same. The government's program to make North Sumatra an economic center has had the unintended consequence of erasing the Acehnese people's identity. Aceh, which was once a multiracial and cosmopolitan society, has now become more parochial. The closure of the port in Aceh, which was once a center of knowledge for trade, culture, religion, and social growth, further compounds this issue.
For the people of Aceh, Indonesia remains a symbol of colonialism. Violating these sensitive matters could lead to similar conflicts in the future. Aceh and Indonesia's relationship is comparable to Ukraine and Russia's fraternal dispute, as both have different interests.
Referensi
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