Peacebuilding in Aceh: After 15 Years of the Helsinki MoU

Abstract

After the Helsinki MoU in 2005, the long history of conflict in Aceh between the Free Aceh Movement and the Government of Indonesia (GOI) was officially resolved. Following the MoU in Helsinki, both parties have worked out social, economic, and political initiatives. This research examines how local and central administrations have implemented the peace agreement and how such implementation has affected the Acehnese people. The research used a qualitative approach to investigate the state of Aceh by conducting in depth interviews with various representative respondents. The total key informants were interviewed between October 2021 and August 2022. The key informants were divided into five groups: the local government, the GOI, researchers or academics, the Acehnese people, and the former Free Aceh Movement. The findings from the Acehnese people or the former Free Aceh Movement revealed that the peacebuilding in Aceh had been implemented by the GOI within Special Autonomy and violence abstinence in Aceh. This study analysis recommended several alternatives for Aceh peacebuilding through performing good governance in the Aceh government, improved special Autonomy Funds, and commodity sustainability in Aceh.