I spent the last few days traveling across Aceh, from West coast through the hinterland, passed the jungle, and spent 3 days in Banda Aceh for office business, stayed over night in Sigli, Pidie, and than returned to Meulaboh. It was a business trip actually, but, you know, working in the field of justice and peace (which means that we are dealing with various kinds of injustice and conflicts), we have to combine work with recreation; otherwise we will trapped in the middle of frustration and unable to see “the future” beyond the existing problems.
I always enjoy traveling across Aceh. The panorama is wonderful: the rainforest, rice-field, big rivers, the peaceful villages with people working in their garden or walking in slow pace to mosques in a praying time.
Aceh is one of the richest region of this country. Besides its golds, oil and gas, the land is very fertile. You can find almost everything here.
In Saree, about 70 kms from Banda A ceh, we sow a farmer is harvesting papaya in his garden. We stopped and chat with him for a while, and then he offered us two riped big papayas to enjoy. For free. And you know, it is a must of a traveler to accept all offers of local people. In Jakarta you have to spent more that Rp. 40.000 for that kind of papaya.
In Tangse, one of the worst conflict zone in the past, we found very cheap durians. We paid Rp. 200.000 and the seller gave us all durians he has. Four of us enjoyed the durians at the site (I think I have 3 or 4); and than still take about 25 into our car. Wonderful.
Sitting by the road, with the stomachs full of durian, we are wondering about the fate of this luxurious region in the past. Why did people create conflicts and destroy this heaven with violences? Why not just let everything flow and enjoy all the blessings from the heaven? Looking from peace point of view, 30 years of conflicts and violences in Aceh is useless, stupid, and really unreasonable. Why did Jakarta authorities send troops to Aceh and why did the Acehnese struggle with violence. Finally we solve the problem with compromise, with peace accord, with a very simple way of solving problem: dialog and find consensus.
We continued our trip to Meulaboh. Along the road, there are a lot of flags of political parties; dominated by Partai Aceh, the party of ex-combatant groups. The situation is heating up now as the general elections draw closer. Polarizations among Acehnese communities and groups are getting bigger. Elites are competing for political position, while the society are boxed into groups.
Let’s hope for the best that the election will be successfully implemented, no violence happened, and all conflicts can be settled through peaceful political process. We hope that all stakeholders, both Indonesian authorities and the people of Aceh, are learning from the 30 years of stupid conflict that violence never solve the problem. It is dialog that lead us to peace, everlasting peace.
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