83-590: Alas River is a river in Aceh in northeastern Sumatra , Indonesia , about 1400 km northwest of the capital Jakarta . It is known for its white water rafting. The banks of the rivers are inhabited by the Alas people . The river flows in the northern area of Sumatra with predominantly tropical rainforest climate (designated as Af in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification). The annual average temperature in
166-585: A bulletin that no tsunami was expected following a magnitude 8.0 quake based on historical data. Only when more accurate measurements of the quakes >9.0 magnitude became available did scientists at the warning center realize they were dealing with a basin-wide tsunami across the Indian Ocean. When the tsunami hit, it was enormous, and the death toll in Aceh exceeded 100,000. There was no tsunami warning system in 2004. Tsunami warning systems have improved since
249-544: A comeback in the next gubernatorial election in Aceh due at the end of Irwandi's five-year term in 2011. In the event, the gubernatorial election due to be held at the end of 2011 was delayed by procedural squabbling as different factions scrambled for advantage. The elections took place in April 2012. The 2012 election, held on 9 April, was largely a continuation of post-agreement rivalries between former GAM leaders, with Zaini Abdullah having returned from exile and entered into
332-549: A complex mix of what the Acehnese regarded as transgressions against and betrayals of their rights. Sukarno , the first president of Indonesia, had reneged on his promise made on 16 June 1948 that Aceh would be allowed to rule itself in accordance with Islamic Law . Aceh was politically dismantled and incorporated into the province of North Sumatra in 1950. This resulted in the Acehnese Rebellion of 1953–59 which
415-541: A former Darul Islam "foreign minister", Hasan di Tiro established the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka) in December 1976. The small movement carried out its first attack on Mobil engineers in 1977, killing one American engineer. Due to this incident, GAM came under the attention of central government who sent small units of counter-insurgency troops that successfully crushed the movement. Di Tiro
498-456: A further 1346 people on Nias and Simeulue, displaced tens of thousands more, and caused the tsunami response to be expanded to include Nias. The World Health Organisation estimates a 100% increase in prevalence of mild and moderate mental disorders in Aceh's general population after the tsunami. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, misjudging the intensity of the Sumatra earthquake, sent out
581-654: A large 2003–04 Indonesian offensive in Aceh against the GAM in 2003 with some success. The leaders of GAM, Hasan di Tiro , and his chief deputy, Zaini Abdullah , and Malik Mahmud lived in exile in Stockholm , Sweden for most of the 1980s and 1990s. The group's main Indonesian spokesman was Abdullah Syafei'i Dimatang. In the late 1990s, GAM began peace talks with Jakarta, brokered by the Swedish government. In 1999, it
664-487: Is inconclusive. The gravestone of Sultan Malik as-Salih, the first Muslim ruler of Samudra, has been found and is dated AH 696 (AD 1297). This is the earliest clear evidence of a Muslim dynasty in the Indonesia-Malay area and more gravestones from the 13th century show that this region continued under Muslim rule. Ibn Batutah , a Moroccan traveller, passing through on his way to China in 1345 and 1346, found that
747-604: Is that qanun is not allowed for non-Muslim person, and national law should be used instead as in other parts of Indonesia. In April 2009, Partai Aceh won control of the local parliament in Aceh's first post-war legislative elections. In September 2009, one month before the new legislators were to take office, the outgoing parliament unanimously endorsed two new qanuns to expand the existing criminal Sharia framework in Aceh. Free Aceh Movement The Free Aceh Movement ( Indonesian : Gerakan Aceh Merdeka , GAM ; Acehnese : Geurakan Acèh Meurdèka / Gěrakan Aceh Měrdeka )
830-516: The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue , did not have adequate monitoring and enforcing mechanisms to enact sanctions for violations. In 2002–2004, the GAM was severely hit by a series of government offensives in which the organisation lost approximately 50% of its members including its commander, Abdullah Syafei'i Dimatang, who was killed in a military ambush in January 2002. On 28 December 2004, in
913-631: The Finnish Government Banquet Hall in Helsinki by chief Indonesian negotiator Hamid Awaluddin and GAM leader Malik Mahmud . President Ahtisaari was the witness of the peace treaty. Under the terms of the agreement, both sides agreed to cease all hostilities immediately. GAM also agreed to disarm, while the Government pledged to withdraw all non-local military and police by the end of 2005. An Aceh Monitoring Mission
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#1732786811651996-583: The Gouvernment of Atjeh and Dependencies under a governor, although it did not establish wider control of its territory until after 1908. The Aceh army was rapidly modernized, and Aceh soldiers killed Köhler. Köhler made some grave tactical errors and the reputation of the Dutch was severely harmed. In recent years, in line with expanding international attention to human rights issues and atrocities in war zones, there has been increasing discussion about some of
1079-599: The Helsinki MOU , was signed on 15 August 2005. Under the agreement Aceh would receive special autonomy and government troops would be withdrawn from the province in exchange for GAM's disarmament. As part of the agreement, the European Union dispatched 300 monitors . Their mission expired on 15 December 2006, following local elections. Aceh has been granted broader autonomy through Aceh government legislation covering special rights agreed upon in 2002 as well as
1162-534: The Lambri Kingdom. Several documented references indicate that Hindu-Buddhist culture existed in the area before its Islamization . The people of Lambri were described by Marco Polo as "idolaters", who had a Maharaja as their ruler, a king in the Hindu political structure, likely meaning they were Hindus , Buddhists , or a combination thereof. The inscription at Tanjore of Rajendra I documents
1245-477: The Malacca Straits region. Aceh has a history of political independence and resistance to control by outsiders, including the former Dutch colonists and later the Indonesian government. Aceh has substantial natural resources of oil and natural gas . Aceh was the closest point of land to the epicenter of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami , which devastated much of the western coast of
1328-689: The Portuguese and the Johor Sultanate . Acehnese military power waned gradually thereafter, and Aceh ceded its territory of Pariaman in Sumatra to the Dutch in the 18th century. By the early 19th century, however, Aceh had become an increasingly influential power due to its strategic location for controlling regional trade. In the 1820s it was the producer of over half the world's supply of black pepper . The pepper trade produced new wealth for
1411-544: The Province of Aceh ( Indonesian : Provinsi Aceh , Acehnese : Nanggroë Acèh , Jawi : نڠڬرواي اچيه دارالسلام ), is the westernmost province of Indonesia . It is located on the northern end of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capital and largest city. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west, Strait of Malacca to the northeast, as well bordering the province of North Sumatra to
1494-473: The Wilayatul Hisbah (Sharia Authority). All of the qanuns provide for penalties including fines, imprisonment, and caning , the latter a punishment unknown in most parts of Indonesia. Between mid-2005 and early 2007, at least 135 people were caned in Aceh for transgressing the qanuns. In April 2016, a 60-year-old non-Muslim woman was sentenced to 30 lashes for selling alcohol drinks. The controversy
1577-508: The tsunami resulting from the magnitude 9.2 Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004. While estimates vary, over 170,000 people were killed by tsunami in Aceh and about 500,000 were left homeless. The tragedy of the tsunami was further compounded several months later, when the 2005 M8.6 Nias–Simeulue earthquake struck the sea bed between the islands of Simeulue Island in Aceh and Nias in North Sumatra. This second quake killed
1660-474: The 1970s oil shocks. The group renewed its activities in the 1989, apparently with financial support from Libya and Iran , fielding around 1,000 soldiers. This training from overseas meant that GAM soldiers were much more organised and better trained than the previous insurgency. To counter this new threat Aceh was declared an "area of special military operations " (Daerah Operasi Militer) or DOM in 1989. Special counter- insurgency troops were sent in and Aceh
1743-416: The 1970s. The first wood pulp mill in Aceh was built in 1982. The government of Aceh intends a law by which 1.2 million hectares would be opened for commercial use. This proposal has caused many protests. Within the country, Aceh is governed not as a regular province but as a special autonomous province ( daerah istimewa ), an administrative designation intended to give the area increased autonomy from
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#17327868116511826-401: The Acehnese rebelled again. The religious ulama party gained ascendancy to replace district warlords ( Ulèëbalang ) party that formerly collaborated with the Dutch. Concrete bunkers still line the northernmost beaches. After World War II, civil war erupted in 1945 between the district warlords party, that supported the return of a Dutch government, and the religious ulama party that supported
1909-521: The Bishop of Malacca , D. João Ribeiro Gaio, based on information provided by a former captive called Diogo Gil, wrote the "Roteiro das Cousas do Achem" (Lisboa 1997) – a description of the sultanate. Later, during its golden era , in the 17th century, its territory and political influence expanded as far as Satun in southern Thailand , Johor in Malay Peninsula , and Siak in what is today
1992-585: The Cham people fled the Vietnamese, one of the earliest locations that they established a relationship was with Aceh. Furthermore, it is thought that one of the earliest centers of Islam was in the Aceh region. When Venetian traveller Marco Polo passed by Sumatra on his way home from China in 1292 he found that Peureulak was a Muslim town while nearby 'Basma(n)' and 'Samara' were not. 'Basma(n)' and 'Samara' are often said to be Pasai and Samudra but evidence
2075-646: The Dutch nor the British knew the specifics, there had been rumors since the 1850s that Aceh had been in communication with the rulers of France and of the Ottoman Empire. Pirates operating from Aceh threatened commerce in the Strait of Malacca ; the sultan was unable to control them. Britain was a protector of Aceh and gave the Netherlands permission to eradicate the pirates. The campaign quickly drove out
2158-473: The Dutch. In the treaty, the British described Aceh as one of their possessions, although they had no actual control over the sultanate. Initially, under the agreement the Dutch agreed to respect Aceh's independence. In 1871, however, the British dropped previous opposition to a Dutch invasion of Aceh, possibly to prevent France or the United States from gaining a foothold in the region. Although neither
2241-460: The Free Aceh Movement and resulted in the second phase of the rebellion, this time with large support from the Acehnese people. This support was demonstrated during the 1999 plebiscite in Banda Aceh which was attended by nearly half a million people (of four million population of the province). The Indonesian central government responded in 2001 by broadening Aceh's autonomy, giving its government
2324-535: The GAM, led to an increase in military presence. Troop numbers are believed to have risen during the rule of Megawati Sukarnoputri . In 2001–02 the combination of military and police forces in Aceh had grown to about 30,000. In one year this number jumped to 50,000 operating in what the International Crisis group called, "a virtual legal vacuum". The security crackdowns during this time resulted in several thousand civilian deaths. The government launched
2407-646: The God Indra , also indicate that Hinduism had a lasting and significant presence in this land. Evidence concerning the initial coming and subsequent establishment of Islam in Southeast Asia is thin and inconclusive. The historian Anthony Reid has argued that the region of the Cham people on the south-central coast of Vietnam was one of the earliest Islamic centers in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, as
2490-804: The Indonesian Muslim to be loyal to the Dutch East Indies Government". During World War II, Japanese troops occupied Aceh. The Acehnese ulama (Islamic clerics) fought against both the Dutch and the Japanese, revolting against the Dutch in February 1942 and against Japan in November 1942. The revolt was led by the All-Aceh Religious Scholars' Association (PUSA). The Japanese suffered 18 dead in
2573-489: The Indonesian authorities for 29 years, has signed a peace deal (15 August 2005). The perception that the tsunami was punishment for insufficient piety in this proudly Muslim province is partly behind the increased emphasis on the importance of religion post-tsunami. This has been most obvious in the increased implementation of Sharia law, including the introduction of the controversial Wilayatul Hisbah or Syariah police. As homes are being built and people's basic needs are met,
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2656-532: The Indonesian central government to take repressive measures and to send troops to Aceh. Human rights abuse was rampant for the next decade, resulting in many grievances on the part of the Acehnese toward the Indonesian central government. In 1990, the Indonesian government initiated military operations against GAM by deploying more than 12,000 Indonesian troops in the region. During the late 1990s, chaos in Java and an ineffective central government gave an advantage to
2739-683: The Indonesian government announced the end of GAM as the counter-insurgency operations had effectively destroyed GAM as a guerrilla force. Surviving GAM members were forced to hide in Malaysia . The fall of Suharto in 1998 and the decision of his successor President Jusuf Habibie to withdraw troops from Aceh as part of democratic reform gave space for GAM to re-establish itself, recruiting youths by exploiting brutality stories of Indonesian military . Increasing violence beginning in 1999 by GAM rebels against government officials and Javanese residents, buoyed by massive weapons smuggling from Thailand by
2822-571: The Islamic attire requirement; Qanun 12/2003 prohibiting the consumption and sale of alcohol; Qanun 13/2003 prohibiting gambling; Qanun 14/2003 prohibiting "seclusion"; and Qanun 7/2004 on the payment of Islamic alms. With the exception of gambling, none of the offenses are prohibited outside of Aceh. Responsibility for enforcement of the qanuns rests both with the National Police and with a special Sharia police force unique to Aceh, known as
2905-676: The Portuguese occupation of Malacca in 1511, many Islamic traders passing the Malacca Straits shifted their trade to Banda Aceh and increased the Acehnese rulers' wealth. During the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda in the 17th century, Aceh's influence extended to most of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula . Aceh allied itself with the Ottoman Empire and the Dutch East India Company in their struggle against
2988-425: The aftermath of the devastation caused by a massive tsunami , GAM declared a ceasefire of hostilities to allow for aid to reach within the disputed area. In turn, the Indonesian government temporarily removed restrictions of northern Sumatra to allow for rescue efforts in that area. Other Aceh separatist groups exist and there was some tension between them and GAM over tactics and GAM's monopoly of negotiations with
3071-607: The area is 22 °C. The warmest month is March, when the average temperature is around 23 °C, and the coldest is June, at 21 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2943 mm. The wettest month is December, with an average of 370 mm rainfall, and the driest is June, with 82 mm rainfall. 2°59′24″N 97°56′10″E / 2.9899°N 97.9362°E / 2.9899; 97.9362 Aceh Aceh ( / ˈ ɑː tʃ eɪ / AH -chay , Indonesian: [aˈtʃɛ(h)] ; Acehnese : Acèh [atʃeh] , Jawi : اچيه ), officially
3154-463: The central government in Jakarta . This has resulted in canings for crimes deemed to have violated sharia law such as gambling, drinking, skipping Friday prayers, and most notably homosexuality. Regional elections have been held in Aceh in recent years for senior positions at the provincial, regency ( kabupaten ) and district ( kecamatan ) levels. In the 2006 elections , Irwandi Yusuf was elected as
3237-415: The coastal areas. Köhler's strategy was to attack and take the sultan's palace. It failed. The Dutch then tried a naval blockade, reconciliation, concentration within a line of forts, and lastly passive containment. They had scant success. Reaching 15 to 20 million guilders a year, the heavy spending for failed strategies nearly bankrupted the colonial government. During the course of the war, the Dutch set up
3320-650: The conquest of a land called "llämuridesam", located at the northern tip of Sumatra. The Nagarakritagama documents the possessions of the Imperial Majapahit , and states that they control Barat, identified as the western coast of Aceh. Chinese records indicate that Aceh was under the control of the Sriwijaya . Though many temples were left abandoned or converted into mosques, such as the Indrapuri Old Mosque , some evidence remains, such as
3403-418: The destruction of 840 weapons by international observers, Free Aceh movement commander Sofyan Daud told reporters, "The Aceh national army is now part of civil society, and will work to make the peace deal a success." As a sign of how the peace process was progressing the founder of Aceh's separatist rebel movement, Hasan di Tiro, returned to Indonesia on 11 October 2008 after nearly 30 years in exile. During
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3486-425: The disaster included Lhoknga , Leupung , Lamno, Patek , Calang , Teunom , and the island of Simeulue . Affected or destroyed towns on the region's north and east coasts were Pidie Regency , Samalanga , and Lhokseumawe . The area was slowly rebuilt after the disaster. The government initially proposed the creation of a two-kilometer buffer zone along low-lying coastal areas within which permanent construction
3569-449: The east, its sole land border, and shares maritime borders with Malaysia and Thailand to the east, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the north. Granted a special autonomous status, Aceh is a religiously conservative territory and the only Indonesian province practicing Sharia law officially. There are ten indigenous ethnic groups in this region, the largest being the Acehnese people , accounting for approximately 70% of
3652-404: The election of 11 December 2006, the Free Aceh Movement temporarily split into two factions each supporting its own candidate for governorship. One side supported Zaini Abdullah 's brother, and the other side supported Irwandi Yusuf , a former GAM negotiator. Irwandi Yusuf got more support from the grass root level and won the election. The losing faction proceeded to bide its time, aiming to make
3735-657: The enactment of Law 44/1999 and the governor's Sharia regulations. In 2014, a group of scholars who call themselves Tadzkiiratul Ummah , started to paint the pants of men and women as a call for heavier Islamic law enforcement in the area. Upon the enactment of the Special Autonomy Law in 2001, Aceh's provincial legislature enacted a series of qanuns (local laws) governing the implementation of Sharia. Five qanuns enacted between 2002 and 2004 contained criminal penalties for violations of Sharia: Qanun 11/2002 on "belief, ritual, and promoting Islam," which contains
3818-545: The government. On 27 February 2005, the Free Aceh Movement and the delegation of the Indonesian government started another round of peace talks in Vantaa , Finland , moderated by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari . On 16 July 2005, the Indonesian Minister of Communication and GAM announced a peace deal to end the thirty-year insurgency . The peace agreement was officially signed on 15 August 2005 in
3901-553: The group the Aceh Security Disturbance Movement [ id ] . The conflict in Aceh stems from several major factors including historical mistreatment, disagreements over Islamic law , discontent over the distribution of Aceh's natural resource wealth, and the increase in the numbers of Javanese people in Aceh. During the era of Dutch colonisation in the 1800s Aceh was a centre of resistance against Dutch colonial rule. They were one of
3984-410: The hands of Indonesian military units hired by the company for security for its natural gas operations. ExxonMobil denied fault for the allegations. After a series of attacks against its operations, the company shut down its Arun natural gas operations in the province. The western coastal areas of Aceh, including the cities of Banda Aceh , Calang , and Meulaboh , were among the areas hardest-hit by
4067-500: The head of a stone sculpture of Avalokiteshvara Boddhisattva was discovered in Aceh. Images of Amitabha Buddhas adorn his crown in front and on each side. Srivijayan art estimated 9th-century CE collection of National Museum of Indonesia , Jakarta. One of the few structural remains is the Indra Patra fort, which has several Hindu shrines. Historic names such as Indrapurba, Indrapurwa, Indrapatra, and Indrapuri, which refer to
4150-404: The immense death toll drew international notice but in rural areas where many don't have internet access or cell phones it remains a challenge to communicate warnings in a timely manner. A warning system was put in place at the request of Aceh residents but it was disabled in 2007 after technical issues and a false alarm that caused a panic. The population of Aceh before the December 2004 tsunami
4233-602: The kings of Sumatra from Aceh through Palembang were Muslim. At Pasai, in what is now the North Aceh Regency , there was a thriving international port. Pires attributed the establishment of Islam in Pasai to the 'cunning' of the Muslim merchants. The ruler of Pasai, however, had not been able to convert the people of the interior. The Sultanate of Aceh was established by Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah in 1511. In 1584–88
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#17327868116514316-803: The last Indonesian peoples to succumb to colonial rule and only after a brutal 30-year campaign, the Aceh War of 1873–1903. When the Netherlands transferred sovereignty of their colonial territory, administration of Aceh was handed over to Indonesia and GAM claims that this was done without consultation with Acehnese authorities. Daud Beureueh mounted an armed rebellion that ended with Aceh being granted special status by President Sukarno . However, President Sukarno had not allowed Aceh to implement sharia law during his reign (1945–1967) due to his strong belief of separation of religion and state . Motivated by discovery of large gas reserves in Lhokseumawe ,
4399-466: The most contentious issues in previous negotiations. A "truth and reconciliation commission" will be organised. On the question of the uneven distribution of income, it was settled that seventy percent of the income from local natural resources will stay within Aceh. On 27 December 2005, the leaders of the Free Aceh Movement announced that they had disbanded their military wing. The action, which took effect immediately, follows from earlier peace talks and
4482-487: The native people of Aceh induced Dr. Hasan Muhammad di Tiro , former ambassador of Darul Islam, to call for an independent Aceh. He proclaimed independence in 1976. The movement had a small number of followers initially, and di Tiro himself had to live in exile in Sweden. Meanwhile, the province followed Suharto 's policy of economic development and industrialization. During the late 1980s several security incidents prompted
4565-472: The newly proclaimed state of Indonesia. The ulama won, and the area remained free during the Indonesian War of Independence . The Dutch military itself never attempted to invade Aceh. The civil war raised the religious ulama party leader, Daud Bereueh , to the position of military governor of Aceh. The Acehnese revolted soon after its inclusion into an independent Indonesia, a situation created by
4648-469: The past it was also spelled as Acheh , Atjeh , and Achin . According to several archaeological findings, the first evidence of human habitation in Aceh is from a site near the Tamiang River where shell middens are present. Stone tools and faunal remains were also found on the site. Archeologists believe the site was first occupied around 10,000 BCE. The history of Aceh stretches back to
4731-494: The people are also looking to improve the quality of education , increase tourism, and develop responsible, sustainable industry. Well-qualified educators are in high demand in Aceh. While parts of the capital Banda Aceh were unscathed, the areas closest to the water, especially the areas of Kampung Jawa and Meuraxa, were completely destroyed. Most of the rest of the western coast of Aceh was severely damaged. Many towns completely disappeared. Other towns on Aceh's west coast hit by
4814-478: The petroleum industry and even bid, via a tender process, on a contract to build a gas pipeline which was beaten by the gas giant Bechtel . The reason for this failure was a lack of popular support from both within Aceh and from international sources. President Suharto was favoured by countries such as America due to his anti communist policies during the Cold War period and likely due to the need for oil thanks to
4897-552: The province of Riau . As was the case with most non-Javan pre-colonial states, Acehnese power expanded outward by sea rather than inland. As it expanded down the Sumatran coast, its main competitors were Johor and Portuguese Malacca on the other side of the Straits of Malacca . It was this seaborne trade focus that saw Aceh rely on rice imports from north Java rather than develop self sufficiency in rice production. After
4980-576: The province. Approximately 170,000 Indonesians were killed or went missing in the disaster. The disaster helped precipitate the peace agreement between the government of Indonesia and the separatist group of Free Aceh Movement . Aceh was first known as Aceh Darussalam (1511–1945). Upon its formation in 1956 it bore the name Aceh before being renamed to the Daerah Istimewa Aceh (Aceh Special Region; 1959–2001), Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam (2001–2009), and back to Aceh (2009–present). In
5063-861: The provincial governor for 2007–2012 and in elections in April 2012 , Zaini Abdullah was elected as governor for 2012–2017. Beginning with the promulgation of Law 44/1999, Aceh's governor began to issue limited Sharia -based regulations, for example requiring female government employees to wear Islamic dress. These regulations were not enforced by the provincial government, but as early as April 1999, reports emerged that groups of men in Aceh were engaging in vigilante violence in an effort to impose Sharia, for example, by conducting " jilbab raids," subjecting women who were not wearing Islamic headscarves to verbal abuse, cutting their hair or clothes, and committing other acts of violence against them. The frequency of these and other attacks on individuals considered to be violating Sharia principles appeared to increase following
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#17327868116515146-452: The reconstruction work was performed by local people using a mix of traditional methods and partial prefabricated structures, with funding coming from many international organizations and individuals, governments, and the people themselves. The Government of Indonesia estimated in their Preliminary Damage and Losses Assessment that damages amounted to US$ 4.5 billion (before inflation, and US$ 6.2 billion including inflation). Three years after
5229-410: The recorded acts of cruelty and slaughter committed by Dutch troops during the period of warfare in Aceh. Hasan Mustafa (1852–1930) was a chief penghulu , or judge, for the colonial government and was stationed in Aceh. He had to balance traditional Muslim justice with Dutch law. To stop the Aceh rebellion, Hasan Mustafa issued a fatwa, telling the Muslim population there in 1894, "It is Incumbent upon
5312-523: The region's population of about 5.5 million people in mid-2023. Its area is comparable to Croatia or Togo . Aceh is where the spread of Islam in Indonesia began, and was a key factor of the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia . Islam reached Aceh (Kingdoms of Fansur and Lamuri ) around 1250 AD. In the early 17th century the Sultanate of Aceh was the most wealthy, powerful and cultivated state in
5395-673: The right of the Acehnese to establish local political parties to represent their interests. Human rights advocates protested that previous human rights violations in the province needed to be addressed, however. Aceh has the largest range of biodiversity in the Asian Pacific region. Among the rarer large mammals are the Sumatran rhinoceros , Sumatran tiger , Orangutan and Sumatran elephant . In 2014, there were 460 Sumatran elephants in Aceh including at least eight baby elephants. The area has been suffering from deforestation since
5478-424: The right to apply Sharia law more broadly and the right to receive direct foreign investment. This was again accompanied by repressive measures, however, and in 2003 an offensive began and a state of emergency was proclaimed in the province. The war was still ongoing when the tsunami disaster of 2004 struck the province. In 2001, villagers from the North Aceh Regency sued ExxonMobil for human rights abuses at
5561-498: The ruler of Samudra was a follower of the Shafi'i school of Islam. After the initial appearance of Islam in Aceh, it further spread into the coastal regions by the 15th century. Aceh soon became a cultural and scholastic Islamic center throughout Southeast Asia. It also became wealthy because it was a center of extensive trade. The Portuguese apothecary Tome Pires reported in his early 16th-century book Suma Oriental that most of
5644-630: The same time, the GAM leadership was undergoing changes, and the Indonesian military had inflicted so much damage on the rebel movement that it had little choice but to negotiate with the central government. The peace talks were first initiated by Juha Christensen , a Finnish peace activist, and then formally facilitated by a Finland -based NGO, the Crisis Management Initiative led by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari . The resulting peace agreement, generally known as
5727-452: The sheer scale of the disaster, and logistic difficulties, progress was slow. A study in 2007 estimated that 83.6% of the population had a psychiatric illness, while 69.8% suffers from severe emotional distress. The ramifications of the tsunami went beyond the immediate impact to the lives and infrastructure of the Acehnese living on the coast. Since the disaster, the Acehnese rebel movement GAM, which had been fighting for independence against
5810-429: The sultan but the local leaders mobilized and fought the Dutch in four decades of guerrilla war, with high levels of atrocities. The Dutch colonial government declared war on Aceh on 26 March 1873. Aceh sought American help but Washington rejected the request. The Dutch tried one strategy after another over the course of four decades. An expedition under Major General Johan Harmen Rudolf Köhler in 1873 occupied most of
5893-539: The sultanate and for the rulers of many smaller nearby ports that had been under Aceh's control, but were now able to assert more independence. These changes initially threatened Aceh's integrity, but a new Sultan Tuanku Ibrahim , who controlled the kingdom from 1838 to 1870, reasserted power over nearby ports. Under the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 the British ceded their colonial possessions on Sumatra to
5976-562: The tsunami with photographs, stories, and a simulation of the earthquake that triggered the tsunami. The 2004 tsunami helped trigger a peace agreement between the GAM and the Indonesian government. The mood in post- Suharto Indonesia in the liberal-democratic reform period, as well as changes in the Indonesian military, helped create an environment more favorable to peace talks. The roles of newly elected president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president Jusuf Kalla were highly significant. At
6059-403: The tsunami, reconstruction was still ongoing. The World Bank monitored funding for reconstruction in Aceh and reported that US$ 7.7 billion had been earmarked for the reconstruction whilst at June 2007 US$ 5.8 billion had been allocated to specific reconstruction projects, of which US$ 3.4 billion had actually been spent (58%). In 2009, the government opened a US$ 5.6 million museum to commemorate
6142-535: The uprising while they slaughtered up to 100 or over 120 Acehnese. The revolt happened in Bayu and was centered around Tjot Plieng village's religious school. During the revolt, the Japanese troops armed with mortars and machine guns were charged by sword wielding Acehnese under Teungku Abduldjalil (Tengku Abdul Djalil) in Buloh Gampong Teungah and Tjot Plieng on 10 and 13 November. In May 1945
6225-432: Was 4,271,000 (2004). The population as of 15 September 2005 was 4,031,589, and in January 2014 was 4,731,705. The 2020 census produced a total population of 5,274,871, comprising 2,647,563 males and 2,627,308 females. As of February 2006, more than a year after the tsunami, a large number of people were still living in barrack-style temporary living centers (TLC) or tents . Reconstruction was visible everywhere, but due to
6308-555: Was a separatist group seeking independence for the Aceh region of Sumatra , Indonesia . GAM fought against Indonesian government forces in the Aceh insurgency from 1976 to 2005. Estimates of the death toll total over 15,000 people killed. The organisation surrendered its separatist intentions and dissolved its armed wing following the 2005 peace agreement with the Indonesian government, and subsequently changed its name into Aceh Transition Committee ( Indonesian : Komite Peralihan Aceh , KPA ). The Indonesian government called
6391-445: Was a result of finally gaining widespread support throughout Aceh as a result of donations and extortion and a large group of potential soldiers who had lost relatives in the previous uprising. At first the guerrilla war of GAM was quite unsuccessful. By 1977, the central government appeared to have entirely neutralised the group. The early GAM efforts were mainly directed at the local ExxonMobil gas plant. Di Tiro had connections with
6474-533: Was led by Daud Beureu'eh who on 20 September 1953 declared a free independent Aceh under the leadership of Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosoewirjo . In 1959, the Indonesian government attempted to placate the Acehnese by offering wide-ranging freedom in matters relating to religion, education and culture. During the 1970s, under an agreement with the Indonesian central government, American oil and gas companies began exploitation of Aceh natural resources. Alleged unequal distribution of profits between central government and
6557-534: Was locked down. Villages that were suspected of harbouring GAM operatives were burnt down and family members of suspected militants were kidnapped and tortured. Amnesty International called the military response "shock therapy" and it is believed 7,000 human rights abuses took place during DOM. GAM forces have also been suspected of Human Rights abuses. Extra judicial executions of suspected military informants and targeting of civilian infrastructure such as schools have both been attributed to GAM operations. In 1996,
6640-435: Was nearly killed and was forced to flee to Malaysia while all members of his cabinet were either killed or forced to flee abroad by 1979. Since its inception GAM has gone through three stages or three rises and falls. The first was at its birth in 1976 to the year 1979 when it was almost wiped out. The second rise and fall was in 1989 to the early 90s when it received funding and training from foreign countries. The third rise
6723-601: Was not permitted. This proposal was unpopular among some local inhabitants and proved impractical in most situations, especially fishing families that are dependent on living near to the sea. The Indonesian government set up a special agency for Aceh reconstruction, the Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (BRR) headed by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto , a former Indonesian government minister. This agency had ministry level of authority and incorporated officials, professionals and community leaders from all backgrounds. Most of
6806-539: Was reported that the group had split into two factions, GAM (representing the original group) and the Free Aceh Movement Government Council (MP-GAM) . This was denied by GAM spokespersons but was widely reported in the Indonesian media. In December 2002, GAM and GoI signed a breakthrough Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) which only held for a few months before violations started occurring. The mediator in these negotiations,
6889-490: Was set up by the EU and ASEAN to oversee the process of disarmament and the reintegration into society of GAM members. A presidential decree granted amnesty to about five hundred former GAM members who were in exile in other countries, and unconditionally released about 1,400 members who had been jailed by the Government. The Government agreed to facilitate the establishment of Aceh-based political parties; this had been one of
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