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As a local journalist who covered the
Aceh conflict during the 2000s, I and many colleagues had the opportunity
to interview Free Aceh Movement (GAM) fighters.
After the
interviews, we often exchanged souvenirs. We would give the GAM fighters
T-shirts, key holders or caps, while they handed us GAM-symbolized pins
or GAM flags in return. The GAM flag is red with a white crescent and
star in the middle, flanked by black and white bars, while GAM’s symbol
features a lion and a buraq (a mythical horse with wings and a human
face).
For the
Acehnese, keeping GAM’s flags or other regalia placed them in danger. We
had to hide it carefully, otherwise the Indonesian security forces would
accuse us of being close to GAM and perhaps arrest us.
I remember
once when my mother accidentally found a GAM flag among the books on my
shelves. She looked more afraid than angry. “Never ever bring this flag
in here again,” she yelled at me after burying it in the backyard.
My mother’s
feeling was shared by other Acehnese everytime they found GAM flags near
their houses during GAM’s anniversary every Dec. 4. People were
traumatized by the flags as they were afraid of being troubled by the
security forces, who usually tortured or arrested anyone in possession of
such a flag. This was a horrible time for the Acehnese.
On March 24,
the Aceh Provincial Legislative Council (DPRA) passed a local bylaw
(perda), known as qanun No. 3/2013, which endorses the GAM flag as the
provincial flag and the GAM symbol as Aceh’s symbol.
DPRA speaker
Hasbi Abdullah said the flag and symbol would unite the people of Aceh.
Hasbi is a prominent figure in the Aceh Party, a local party consisting
of former GAM members. “The Aceh flag is also a manifestation of the
Acehenese people’s cultural struggle,” he said.
Aceh Governor
Zaini Abdullah, who is Hasbi’s brother, said that if the central
government approved the qanun, the current Pancacita flag, which has been
used since 1961, would be revoked and no longer be used.
Zaini,
previously GAM’s health minister, said the flag change was based on Law
No.11/2006 on Aceh government. He added that the change of flag and
symbol would be conducted gradually, urging residents not to raise the
new flags just yet.
As an
Acehnese, I doubted that the GAM flag would be able to fly legally as
fears of the danger it caused still haunted the minds of many Acehenese.
However, I was proven wrong as the majority of Acehenese seem happy with
the decision.
People in
several areas in Aceh have started to raise the flag, with thousands at
rallies with the flags in the capital, Banda Aceh, showing their
excitement. The mood was a reminder of the people’s demands for a
referendum in 2000.
Some friends
of mine are putting the GAM flag as profile pictures on their BlackBerry
smartphones, while others eagerly ask whether the central government has
approved the qanun.
The central
government, on the other hand, looks unhappy with the Aceh government’s
decision. Jakarta-based experts and politicians keep complaining that the
central government should not accommodate the move to make the GAM flag
the provincial flag of Aceh.
Such concerns
from Jakarta are understandable as people may conclude that if the
central government endorses the flag, which symbolizes separatism, Aceh
may then ask for independence. The central government must be aware of
this possible scenario.
Others may
think that endorsing the GAM flag as Aceh’s provincial flag will spoil an
already peaceful situation, particularly the relationship between Aceh
and Jakarta.
In response,
both Zaini and Hasbi have stated that there was no intention for Aceh to
be free from Indonesia and that the flag is meant only to unite the
Acehenese in achieving prosperity.
One important
aspect of the endorsement of the GAM flag as the Aceh provincial flag was
part of the central government’s earlier commitment that the Acehnese
select a flag and symbol for the province. Such a commitment was
mentioned in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and
the GAM in Helsinki in 2005.
Trust is the
most important thing for the province, which had contributed many things
before Indonesia’s independence. Aceh attained peace because of trust. If
the central government ignores the promise, there will be another problem
for peace in Aceh because people in Aceh believe the flag issue is not
the only promise being reneged upon by Jakarta.
Several
things in the peace agreement have yet to be implemented – the
establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission (KKR), a human
rights court and the revenue sharing commitment. The issue of human
rights is very serious for victims in Aceh as they need to find the
truth. After more than eight years of peace in Aceh, none of the victims
have received justice because of a dead end in national regulations.
Human rights
victims are also dissapointed as the 2005 MoU runs counter to the 2006
Aceh Government Law. For instance, Article 227 of the law mentions that cases
before 2006 cannot be processed in Aceh’s human rights court. In fact,
human rights violations in Aceh happened before 2006.
Another
promise is about a 70 percent share of the revenues from oil and gas
reserves. The Acehnese have long blamed the central government’s greed
for their poverty, as most of the revenues from the province’s resources
have gone to the state’s coffers.
For the
Acehnese, a promise is a promise. They will be dissapointed if the
central government does not keep its word, just like during the eras of
Sukarno and Soeharto.
However, if
the central government finally approves the red flag as the Aceh
provincial flag, I still cannot imagine how my mother would feel. I hope
she is not afraid anymore, but who knows? ●
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