ACEH
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When we hear Aceh we immediately say "Tsunami" and then think of SAF's massive aid response.
How much do we know about Aceh?
Why are they fighting?
What is the Indonesian military doing to the Acehnese?
How come they are so close to us geographically, yet we know so little about its people, its history, and its aspirations?
Is Aceh, or what's happening there, a danger to us? -
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should send in saf....
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Whatever for?Originally posted by soulwinner:should send in saf.... -
Give them a common enemy....
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Let them use SAND to settle their problems lah......
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Please read this book. Very insightful, also very alarming. It is another "Vietnam" coming to a country near you.
The situation is actually quite serious and though there is a general news blackout, Singapore is already somehow involved.
Some of the rebels were exiled to SIngapore and later moved to Sweden.
These people have been fighting before the birth of modern Indonesia. They fought the Dutch, the Japs, the Dutch again. When Indonesia became independent, the Acehnese were betrayed and they began fighting the Indonesians.
Besides independence for Aceh, the bigger cause they are fighting for is to make Indonesia an Islamic Republic - as opposed to a democratic republic. They have big ambitions.
This Islamisation is gaining momemtum all over Indonesia.
Why Aceh is important for us to understand is that although there is a news blackout, this place looks like the most potentially troublesome place eventually for SE Asia.
It is not difficult to imagine JI finding lots of willing converts in Aceh.
Ever wondered why Singapore responded so generously to the Acehnese?
Could it be because we want to be buy some goodwill from a potentially explosive population?
The Indonesian military had been killing indiscrimately and all kinds of abuses heaped upon the Acehnese. Not difficult to predict that the war will increase beyond Aceh's borders as the Acehnese start bring the war to the Indonesians.
Now there is only one or two organisations like GAM that's fighting the Indos. It's a matter of time before more extremist factions emerge.
The loss of E Timor in the extreme east of their empire surely puts the Indos in no mood to lose yet another chunk in their western most. -
GAM has effectively ended its armed revolt and disarmed itself after the peace accords signed in 2005 under the auspices of the Norwegian government. Former guerrillas were integrated back into society. Free elections were held in Acheh this year and GAM is participating politically in the electoral system. The central government in Jakarta has also made inroads towards greater allocation of Achehnese oil revenues to local needs. Hence the Acheh rebellion is in the past tense.
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"In December 2005, the GAM officially disarmed, and the TNI left Aceh as agreed. Although the group is officially inactive, peace deals have been broken before in Aceh, and only time will tell if the current agreement will hold up and end hostilities."
http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3600 -
Brief history of Acheh. Enjoy
http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/johor2.htm -
Hmm, So if Aceh really has a armed conflict, u guys think SAF will send in a Troops to aid the fighting there? OR will we just send humanitarian aid there?
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Send Troops to help which party? It has always been Indonesian Internal problem with Acheh.Besides SIngapore and Malaysia wouldnt want Acheh to be Independant either.Originally posted by acwire_2125:Hmm, So if Aceh really has a armed conflict, u guys think SAF will send in a Troops to aid the fighting there? OR will we just send humanitarian aid there? -
Meulaboh...
Bandar Aceh...
Lhokseumawe...
Medan...
3 yrs back yet it seems like i can remember it like yesterday. -
continue your story lah why stop?Originally posted by kopiosatu:Meulaboh...
Bandar Aceh...
Lhokseumawe...
Medan...
3 yrs back yet it seems like i can remember it like yesterday.
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erm, my story is told in the propaganda magazine for OFEOriginally posted by Short Ninja:continue your story lah why stop? 
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aahhh i remember medan and lake toba..... the tour guide always warn us of harimau. so confuse becoz we didnt see any 'we ask him what harimau?' he said... itu dong hari hari mau...(prostitute)
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Well, I think it is time that the SAF send in Combat troops to support.
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support which side?
and for what purpose? would that benefit us? -
We have contributed monitors for the ceasefire, and this is one reason why went in force to help Aceh immediately after the tsunami. The Acehnese do not forget those who came in their hour of need. (Is this one unspoken reason for the Indo leaders to feel slighted, that a foreign army could come in and assist faster and more extensively than their own people?)
Read up on history, and one might realise that the Acehnese have for long periods in the past, been another SEA power like the Johor-Riau sultanate. They are a fiercely independant people, and most talk of Islamisation was meant as a vehicle to acheive autonomy from Indonesia.
We keep watch, but I believe that an autonomous, satisfied Aceh is in Singapore's best interest. -
Exxon Mobil harvests all the natural gas in Aceh and the money is split between Jakarta and the Americans, with next to nothing for the Acehnese.
Exxon Mobil is being sued by human rights groups:
"According to human rights groups, ExxonMobil has hired military units of the Indonesian national army to provide "security" for their gas extraction and liquification project in the region. Members of these military units regularly have perpetrated ongoing and severe human rights abuses against local villagers, including murder, rape, torture, destruction of property and other acts of terror. Human rights groups further charge that ExxonMobil has continued to finance the military and to provide company equipment and facilities that have been used by the Indonesian military to commit atrocities and cover them up through the use of mass graves." -
becareful of the notion of autonomy, as I see it, it is not the interest of Singapore to have to dealt with many small states in the south of the border. especially ride with historical claim and ethnic rivalry. I think retaining status quo is probably the best interest.Originally posted by LazerLordz:We have contributed monitors for the ceasefire, and this is one reason why went in force to help Aceh immediately after the tsunami. The Acehnese do not forget those who came in their hour of need. (Is this one unspoken reason for the Indo leaders to feel slighted, that a foreign army could come in and assist faster and more extensively than their own people?)
Read up on history, and one might realise that the Acehnese have for long periods in the past, been another SEA power like the Johor-Riau sultanate. They are a fiercely independant people, and most talk of Islamisation was meant as a vehicle to acheive autonomy from Indonesia.
We keep watch, but I believe that an autonomous, satisfied Aceh is in Singapore's best interest.
not sure what aspect of interest to Singapore do you forsee if antonomous was given to Aceh? -
It may not seem to be in our interest to have to deal with many possible new states down south, but it is a less terrible deal than for e.g, an Aceh that has escalation of violence and the possible entrance of foreign militants that take advantage of that political standoff and use Aceh as a battleground to spread their cause for an Islamic Khalifa through violence and coercion.Originally posted by Arapahoe:becareful of the notion of autonomy, as I see it, it is not the interest of Singapore to have to dealt with many small states in the south of the border. especially ride with historical claim and ethnic rivalry. I think retaining status quo is probably the best interest.
not sure what aspect of interest to Singapore do you forsee if antonomous was given to Aceh?
By empowering the local Aceh nationalists, you give them the power and the standing to ensure that they will attempt to maintain the gift of autonomy that they have given. Consequently, it may be easier to invest in such a region, because they have more control over their natural resources too.
Furthermore, the Acehnese have always been at odds with the Javanese, same as the case of Timor Leste, which apart from Indonesian annexation in the 70s, did not share a single culture nor ethnic history with the ruling elites in Java. -
while it may seemed to be idea solution to stop islamist military expansion in the region. but you seed the soul of independent states in the region which the central government are weak to hold it together.
However, if the states could transform itself into a federation union than it might be a different path altogether. -
I don't think the rest of the states would have separatist notions, after all, they share a common culture. However, I foresee greater autonomy and nothing further than that. Both the provinces and the central government need each other. If Aceh did not get anything more than autonomy, I don't think the other provinces would get a better deal than a larger share of the oil/gas revenue.Originally posted by Arapahoe:while it may seemed to be idea solution to stop islamist military expansion in the region. but you seed the soul of independent states in the region which the central government are weak to hold it together.
However, if the states could transform itself into a federation union than it might be a different path altogether.