Aceh: A New Dawn

28 Pages·2007·2.766 MB·English

by  Aris Ananta, Lee Poh Onn

The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) was established as an autonomous
organization in 1968. It is a regional centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security
and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and
economic environment.
The Institute’s research programmes are the Regional Economic Studies (RES, including
ASEAN and APEC), Regional Strategic and Political Studies (RSPS), and Regional Social and
Cultural Studies (RSCS).
ISEAS Publishing, an established academic press, has issued almost 2,000 books and
journals. It is the largest scholarly publisher of research about Southeast Asia from within the
region. ISEAS Publishing works with many other academic and trade publishers and
distributors to disseminate important research and analyses from and about Southeast Asia to
the rest of the world.
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First published in Singapore in 2007 by ISEAS Publishing

Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace

Pasir Panjang

Singapore 119614

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: <http://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg>

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission

of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

© 2007 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore

The responsibility for facts and opinions in this publication rests exclusively with the
authors and their interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views or the policy of the
publisher or its supporters.
ISEAS Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Aceh: a new dawn / edited by Aris Ananta and Lee Poh Onn.
1. Aceh (Indonesia)—Politics and government.
2. Natural disasters—Indonesia—Aceh.
3. Aceh (Indonesia)—Population.
4. Ethnicity—Indonesia—Aceh.
5. Aceh (Indonesia)—Religion.
6. Women—Indonesia—Aceh.
7. Disaster relief—Singapore.
8. Disaster relief—Indonesia—Meulaboh (Aceh).
I. Ananta, Aris.
II. Lee, Poh Onn.
DS646.15 A1A173 2007
ISBN-13: 978-981-230-395-0 (hard cover — 13 digit)
ISBN-10: 981-230-395-2 (hard cover — 10 digit)
Endpaper of map is reproduced from Reaching Out: Operation Flying Eagle, SAF
Humanitarian Assistance after the Tsunami (Singapore: SNP Editions for Ministry of
Defence, 2005) with kind permission of the publisher.
Typeset by Superskill Graphics Pte Ltd, Singapore
Printed in Singapore by Utopia Press Pte Ltd
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Contents

Foreword by Winston Choo vii
Message from Pieter Feith ix
Message from the Director xi
The Contributors xiii
INTRODUCTION
Aris Ananta and Lee Poh Onn
1
CHAPTER 1

Civil War, Conflicts and Natural Disasters

Michael Vatikiotis
7
CHAPTER 2

The Population and Conflicts

Aris Ananta
15
CHAPTER 3

Recovery and Reconstruction

Kuntoro Mangkusubroto
35
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CHAPTER 4

The Women of Aceh

Braema Mathiaparanam
53
CHAPTER 5

Meulaboh

Lee Poh Onn
65
Concluding Remarks
Aris Ananta and Lee Poh Onn
101
Index
107
vi
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Foreword

The Asian tsunami of 2004 was one of whole, this book also focuses on
the deadliest disasters in modern history. Meulaboh, Indonesia, as this was the
It caused unprecedented death and region most affected by the disaster.
destruction, and suffering to the people It gives an insight to the speedy, focused,
of the affected nations. It was also a grim and appropriate response by the
reminder of the havoc Mother Nature Singapore Government and the efforts
can unleash. In the midst of the tragedy, by Singaporeans and our NGOs in the
we also saw the world, with Singapore reconstruction and rehabilitation process
at the forefront, band together to offer which is still on-going.While this book
emergency aid to the victims. is targeted at Singapore’s efforts in
While much has been written about Meulaboh, Aceh, it is necessary to point
this disaster, the work that has continued out that we also reached out and
since the devastation struck has not been provided significant assistance during the
given sufficient attention.Two years on, it emergency through to the reconstruction
is timely to review what has been done stages in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
to bring the victims and their nations Many of Singapore’s NGOs and VWOs
back on their feet and to recognize the were and still are in these two countries
efforts of all who responded to the call to bring humanitarian relief to those
for assistance in the immediate aftermath affected by the tsunami.
of the disaster, and later in the recovery Dr Aris Ananta and Dr Lee Poh
and reconstruction stages. Onn, scholars at the Institute of
When the Director of ISEAS, Southeast Asian Studies, have covered
Ambassador K. Kesavapany, approached a lot of ground in bringing this book
me with the idea of producing a book to together. I have been to Meulaboh and
commemorate the second anniversary of seen for myself the devastation
this event, I did not hesitate and assured immediately following the tsunami as
him of my full support. Besides Aceh as a well as the recovery efforts during my
vii
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subsequent visits.The work of these two to the people of Meulaboh.This book
scholars reflects and confirms what I has done justice in recording the sterling
have seen of the work of all the efforts of Singaporeans in lending a
Singaporeans who have made the special helping hand to their neighbours in
effort and sacrifice to provide assistance times of need.
Lt Gen Winston Choo, Retd.
Chairman
Singapore Red Cross
viii
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Message from Pieter Feith

The Link between Reconstruction observation reiterated in the preamble to
and Peace the Memorandum of Understanding
Even though the first contacts between signed by the parties in Helsinki on
the parties in the Aceh conflict had 15 August 2005. Conversely, reintegration
already taken place when the December of former GAM (Free Aceh Movement)
2004 tsunami struck, the disaster brought combatants is helped by the massive
new urgency with it: a political will to reconstruction effort in Aceh, strongly
leave old grievances behind and join supported by the European Union. After
forces in the necessary reconstruction the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM)
process and the creation of a common leaves Aceh, the reintegration efforts for
and sustainable future for the people the victims of the conflict, as well as the
of Aceh. reconstruction of houses and
There is an intimate link between infrastructure ruined by the tsunami or
peace and development, which in the by the conflict will have to be embedded
case of Aceh translates into the in longer-term programmes benefiting
interdependence between post-tsunami all affected citizens of Aceh.
reconstruction and the peace process. It There is a lot at stake for the people
has been stated before, but it is essential of Aceh. Keeping the tsunami tragedy in
to reiterate that without security and mind, the EU is a long-term partner to
political stability the continued rebuilding the people of Aceh as they progress along
of the Acehnese society and economy the irreversible path to sustainable peace
would be extremely difficult — an and development in Aceh.
Pieter Feith
Head
Aceh Monitoring Mission
ix
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