Recently in Aceh an old conflict between the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka or GAM, as
it is known, (Free Aceh Movement) independence fighters and the Indonesian
Army was reignited. Several soldiers were killed in revenge, it is
believed, for past Army atrocities.
Since Indonesia's transition toward
democracy began in 1998, after former President Soeharto's thirty years of
military dictatorship, the Free Aceh Movement members have taken advantage
of the loosened military control to renew their struggle. It is a struggle
that threatens to become a never-ending story.
Aceh's urge for independence goes far back in time. The fierce Islamic
Acehnese have never accepted any foreign (non-Acehnese) ruling power,
whether Islamic or Christian.
Before the Dutch forced the Acehnese to
capitulate near the beginning of this century after a thirty-year war
started in 1873, Aceh had never been under foreign authority. When
Indonesia gained its independence from the Dutch in 1945, Aceh was made part
of the province of North Sumatra.
After strong objection from the Acehnese
to this incorporation, the new Indonesian government finally gave Aceh
special status as an autonomous region with a degree of self-rule in
religious, cultural and educational matters. Despite this token autonomy,
Acehnese independence sentiments never wavered. During his presidency
Soeharto's militaristic government kept Army troops in Aceh to suppress any
pro-independence activities. GAM's political leader, Hassan Tiro (who is
descended from Aceh nobility) fled to Sweden where he has lived for many
years, coordinating GAM's strategy. How long the clashes between the
Indonesian military and GAM continue will depend on political solutions.
Hopefully the negotiations now taking place
in Malaysia will end the violence.
Although tourists are not the intended victims of the violence occuring near
the popular tourist regions of Takengon and Meulaboh in Aceh, because of the
possiblity of accidental tourist casualities, travelers have been advised to
avoid Aceh.
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Violence has been confined to the suspected sites of GAM
activities in the eastern and northwestern sections of Aceh. The rest of
Sumatra is untouched by this Acehnese unrest; there are no Acehnese
sympathisers or partisans fanning disturbances in other parts of Sumatra.
Aceh itself has always stood apart from the rest of Sumatra, and is viewed
by the Sumatrans themselves as a distant and very different province. While
Aceh is seen as geographically and culturally relatively isolated from other
parts of Sumatra, many Indonesians sympathize with the Acehnese on the
provocative influence of the Army's long, repressive and often violent
presence in Aceh.
The province of North Sumatra, hundreds of kilometres away from the scenes
of Acehnese violence, is a safe, beautiful holiday destination, virtually
untouched by the violence in its northern neighbor.
The famous Lake Toba,
Asia's largest volcanic lake, is the best known of North Sumatra's many
fascinating destinations.
The same beauty that you will find at Lake Toba prevails throughout this
two-thousand kilometre long island, peaceful paradise. One of the largest
unspoiled tropical rainforests in the world as well as habitats for
endangered urang utans,
may be found on the island of Sumatra. This is an island of palm-fringed
beaches whose beauty rivals that of Bali, but whose tranquility far
surpasses Bali's, which now receives millions of tourists each year.
For you who seek to retreat to one of the most beautiful, relaxed tropical
islands of the world, do come to North Sumatra! Only northern Aceh need be
off your travel path for now.
And when the conflict ends in Aceh, that
beautiful region will also welcome you to share its spectacular sites
again.
TRI JAYA TOUR & TRAVEL
Medan - North Sumatra - Indonesia
Fax: +62-61-7863324
Email: trijaya@ibm.net
Homepage: www.trijaya-travel.com
Date posted: Monday 23Aug99
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