Aceh Conflict Resolution: Lessons Learned and the Future of Aceh
Abstract
The Aceh conflict has been one of the longest running in Asia. A memorandum of understanding between the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was finally signed on August 15, 2005, in Helsinki, Finland. The agreement brought an end to the nearly 30 years of bloody armed conflict that claimed 15,000 lives, displaced tens of thousands of people, and impacted the whole country economically as well as politically. Between 1970 and the early 2000s, the Indonesian government tried to put an end to the rebellion by utilizing various policies. However, its efforts to put GAM down relied heavily on military options, and these generated human right abuses. Initially, military operations suppressed the rebellion, but over time, GAM gained support from both inside and outside the country, including weapons and training. When the Indonesian government declared Aceh a military operation zone in the late 1980s, the Indonesian military fought GAM with counterinsurgency strategies. Although military actions managed to reduce GAM's strength significantly, the negative impact of the military approach also had political consequences. The Indonesian military was frequently linked to allegations of a series of human rights violations such as murder, torture, and abduction. The post-Suharto government, under President Habibie (1998-1999), promised to give greater autonomy to Aceh. President Wahid (1999-2001) initiated peace talks with GAM. His successor, President Megawati, granted a special autonomy status to the Aceh province in 2001 and continued negotiations with GAM. However, when the peace talks failed in 2003, the Indonesian government responded by imposing, again, a military strategy known as an "integrated operation." This operation also failed to destroy GAM and the rebellion continued. This thesis examines how the Indonesian government resolved the conflict using military and political approaches.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA501536
Entities
People
- Joko P. Putranto
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School