Greetings, today I am discussing again Aceh, why Aceh? Because this is me, everyone who feels Acehnese and includes the water, the land and the air he has. As a young Acehnese who grew out of uncertain political rhetoric, I should try to discuss with you, if you feel any objection to what I write then you can help me correct it with some evidence needed.
I made a review of Aceh's general condition.
Today Aceh is part of the Unitary State the Republic of Indonesia, Aceh has some distinctness compared to other provinces in Indonesia, one of which is, Aceh has local parties and other privileges. Why is that?
All of these privileges are actually not given to Aceh for free because there is a very expensive price to be paid by Aceh to the Government of Indonesia, namely BLOOD, and self-esteem.
Prior to the independence of Indonesia, Aceh was a sovereign kingdom, only I did not know why Aceh is now part of the Indonesian state. Some sources mention that Aceh has an important role to play in Indonesian independence.
On September 20, 1953, there was opposition against the Indonesian government, this resistance movement led by Tgk. Daud Beureuh, he is a cleric. A source mentions that this resistance is a form of rejection of Aceh's coalescence into the province of North Sumatra.
If indeed mentioned opposition Tgk. Daud Beureuh is merely a form of rejection of Aceh's coalescence so it becomes unreasonable, how could an ex-sovereign kingdom go to war only to defend the kingdom into a province of a newly independent state?
Then, on December 4, 1976, an initiator and proclaimer of the Free Aceh Movement or also known as Acheh Sumatera National Liberation Front (ASNLF) Tgk. Hasan di Tiro states that Aceh is a country and also a sign of the start of a new era of opposition against the Indonesian government.
Abdullah Syafi'ei and women soldiers of the Free Aceh Movement. Image source wikipedia
The Free Aceh Movement finally made peace with the Indonesian government on August 15, 2005 after the earthquake and tsunami devastated Aceh in December 2004, the memorandum of peace (memorandum of understanding) is better known as MoU Helsinki, the MoU is realized on the initiative of the government of Indonesia, Gerakan Aceh Merdeka and accompanied by former Finnish president.
What are the contents of the Helsinki MoU?
I will only quote a few points which will be the subject of our discussion.
- The Aceh border refers to the border on 1 July 1956
- Aceh will form a local party and facilitated by the Indonesian government
- In the field of Economics, Aceh has the right to set interest rates different from those stipulated by the Central Bank the Republic of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia).
- Aceh is entitled to control 70% of carbon and other natural resources, in Aceh and sea territorial.
- Aceh can make direct access to foreign countries
- Civil crimes committed by the military will be tried in civil courts in Aceh
- A Human Rights Court will be established in Aceh
- A Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Aceh will be established
- The Free Aceh Movement should demolish 3,000 military troops
- The relocation of non-organic troops and police will be carried out in four stages, in accordance with the handover of weapons by the Free Aceh Movement.
- After the signing of this MoU, there is no more massive movement of troops. If there is any more troop movement than a platoon then it should notify the Head of Monitoring Mission.
The first discussion on the issue of Aceh's territorial return in accordance with 1 July 1956, is there a special Indonesian government law governing the territory on 1 July 1956?
After I searched for a few sources, none of them stated how the territory of Aceh on 1 July 1956, which was only a draft of the newly signed law of December 1956, or currently known as Act 24 of 1956.
So in accordance with the data I received then, signed at the Helsinki MoU is still in the form of a draft, and unauthorized. How could this happen? In my opinion, the point is deliberately created and can not be used as a legal basis.
Today Aceh has established a local party and this privilege may be revoked by the Indonesian government because of its unwillingness, the Aceh Government remains subject to the Indonesian government, if it turns out that the local party is no longer in demand and is considered too costly to the Indonesian government, then the Indonesian government could have abolished this regulation.
I do not yet understand what is meant by "Aceh has the right to set its own interest rate". Because up to now I and millions of Acehnese still use the interest rate set by Bank Indonesia which is 1 USD = Rp 13,500.-
70% of the natural products agreed in the MoU also I do not understand whether 70% of Aceh's natural resources are enjoyed by Acehnese or Acehnese, or 70% of the revenue sharing has not yet been realized by the Indonesian government, if it has not been realized yet, where is Aceh to this day, will it have to wait until all Aceh's natural resources are drained away?, I write this when MuO Helsinki is almost 13 years old.
In the next few points, you can directly ask the Government of Aceh and Indonesia, whether it has been implemented or just a dream.
At the next few points, you can directly ask the Government of Aceh and Indonesia, whether it has been implemented or only a sweetener note on the MoU.
Oh, bear in mind that during the Aceh conflict with the Government of Indonesia, Aceh has lost about 10,000 lives and is psychologically still affecting the next generation.
This becomes our reflection and may I can continue this discussion on another occasion.
You can download the contents of the MoU by the Indonesian government with the Free Aceh Movement here
Best Regards 
