The Problem of Aceh

While the world was preoccupied with the recently concluded war in Iraq, another war has been brewing in our own backyard. I'm of course referring to Aceh. But then this is not a new war - the Acehnese have been fighting for their freedom for decades. And way before Sukarno united the Malay archipelago together into an independent and sovereign state called Indonesia, the Acehnese have spent generations fighting to defend their homeland from the Portuguese and Dutch.

Historically, the Acehnese have proven to be fierce and brave warriors. Even the women fought bravely alongside the men to defend their kingdom against foreign invaders. Known as "Serambi Mekkah" or "Corridor to Mecca", Aceh has been the bastion of the Malay Muslim world for many centuries. The Aceh Kingdom was a well-known trading stop for Arabs, Turks, Chinese and Indian merchants before the arrival of European sailors.

The belligerent Portuguese were the first to face the ferocity of the Acehnese. Many battles were fought between ships from the two sides. After the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, the Aceh sultanate mounted many campaigns to oust them from that important port. In fact, it was with the help of Aceh that the Dutch managed to capture Malacca from the Portuguese in 1641.

When the Dutch wanted to extend their dominion over to the resource rich Sumatran island, they found in the Acehnese their toughest opponents. Bloody wars between the two sides were fought until the first decade of the twentieth century.

It is not surprising that having such a long and proud history of defending their homeland, the Aceh people have a strong sense of local identity and since independence from the Dutch, have posed a problem to the Indonesian government who is not willing to entertain any secessionist hopes. Peace talks have broken down between the two sides and the Indonesian army is determined to crush the 5,000-odd freedom fighters of GAM, the Free Aceh Movement with their military might.

The Indonesian army has been accused of commiting many human right violations in their past attempts to contain these separatist rebels. Hence, the Acehnese have no love for the Indonesian government. They want greater share of their local oil and mineral wealth, a more Islamic legislation and administration and ultimately their Utopia of a completely independent Islamic state of Aceh.

It is a thorny issue for the Indonesian government. But I believe President Megawati will fight to the last drop of blood to keep the Indonesia of 13,000 islands, forged together so painfully by her late father Sukarno, a single united nation.