From TheBestLinks.com
Aceh, or in full Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is a special territory (daerah istimewa) in Indonesia. To the east of Aceh is the province Sumatera Utara, with the border running roughly north-south.
Basics
The population of Aceh is estimated at 4.2 million (2000), or 3% of the Indonesian population and nearly a quarter of the population of the province of Sumatra. Aceh possesses one of Indonesia's largest reserves of oil and natural gas. A number of multinational corporations, such as Exxon Mobil, maintain a presence in Aceh.
History
It is believed that Islam first entered Southeast Asia through Aceh in the 8th century. In the 18th century, the Islamic kingdom of Aceh was involved in a power struggle between British and Dutch colonial interests.
In 1824, the Anglo-Dutch treaty was signed, effectively giving the Dutch control of British possessions in Sumatra. The Dutch agreed to allow the independence of Aceh, possibly to serve as a buffer state. In 1871, the British allowed the Dutch to invade Aceh, possibly to prevent the French from gaining a foothold in the region. The Dutch found gaining control of Aceh difficult: Acehnese guerrilla activity lasted until World War II.
In 1949, the Dutch handed their colonial possessions to Indonesia, including the Kingdom of Aceh. Indonesian troops were dispatched to annex Aceh, causing resentment to what Acehnese view as foreign occupation. In 1959 the Indonesian government yielded and gave Aceh a "special territory" status, giving it a high degree of autonomy in a number of matters. This placated a number of Acehnese, but a pro-independence movement still remains.
Separatist movement
There is a view among the Acehnese that Jakarta exploits Aceh's natural resources, while leaving the region impoverished. Religion is another factor: the majority of Indonesia's Muslims are secular compared to the more devout Acehnese (Acehnese still distance themselves from fundamentalist Islam). Culturally, Aceh is also distinct from mainstream Indonesia. The Indonesian government's policy of culturally 'unifying' the entire archipelago to increase stability is unpopular among Acehnese (as well as a number of other ethnic groups).
In 2002 the separatists and the Indonesian government agreed on a peace plan. However it collapsed in early 2003 and the government imposed martial law and began a large-scale offensive in the region. In November 2003 the martial law was extended for a further six months. According to a Human Rights Watch report [1] (http://hrw.org/reports/2003/indonesia1203/5.htm#_Toc58915047), abuses by the Indonesian military are widespread, with more than 100,000 people being displaced in the first seven months of martial law and extra-judicial killings being common.
See also: Free Aceh Movement
External link
Municipalities and Regencies
Before 1999, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam had 2 municipalities and 8 regencies.
Municipalities :
Regencies :
- Aceh Besar (capital : Jantho)
- Pidie (capital : Sigli)
- Aceh Utara (capital : Lhok Seumawe)
- Aceh Timur (capital : Langsa)
- Aceh Tengah (capital : Takengon)
- Aceh Barat (capital : Meulaboh)
- Aceh Selatan (capital : Tapaktuan)
- Aceh Tenggara (capital : Kutacane)
But after 1999, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam has been divided in order to ease local government and now it has got 17 regencies & 4 municipalities :
Regencies :
- Aceh Barat (capital : Meulaboh)
- Aceh Barat Daya (capital : Blang Pidie)
- Aceh Besar (capital : Jantho)
- Aceh Jaya (capital : Calang)
- Aceh Selatan (capital : Tapaktuan)
- Aceh Singkil (capital : Singkil)
- Aceh Barat (capital : Meulaboh)
- Aceh Selatan (capital : Tapaktuan)
- Aceh Tamiang (capital : Karang baru)
- Aceh Tengah (capital : Takengon)
- Aceh Tenggara (capital : Kutacane)
- Aceh Timur (capital : Langsa)
- Aceh Utara (capital : Lhoksukon)
- Bener Meriah (capital : Simpang III Redelong)
- Bireuen (capital : Bireuen)
- Gayo Lues(capital : Blangkejeren)
- Nagan Raya (capital : Sukamakmue)
- Pidie (capital : Sigli)
- Simeulue (capital : Sinabang)
Municipalities :
Meanwhile there are two demands for new autonomous areas: In Aceh Singkil, there is a demand for establishing municipality of Subulussalam and in Pidie, around 8 districts demand to develop a new regency which will be named (?)Meuredu or Pidie Jaya. Those are demanded to facilitate development in the areas.
Ethnic group
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is a heterogeneous region which formed by various ethnic groups and languages. The main ethnic groups are Acehnese who are distributed in almost part of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Gayo (who are concentrated in Aceh Tengah, some parts of Aceh Timur, Bener Meriah and Gayo Lues); Alas (concentrated in Aceh Tenggara); Tamiang (who are concentrated in Aceh Tamiang); Aneuk Jamee (concentrated in Aceh Selatan and Aceh Barat Daya); Kluet (concentrated in Aceh Selatan) and Simeulue (concentrated in Simeulue Island). There are other groups like Javanese, Batak, Chinese, Indians, Arabs and more.
There is also a small group of European descendants who live in Kecamatan Jaya, Aceh Jaya. Many of them have blonde hair, white skin and blue eyes. They are believed to be the Islamicized descendants of Portuguese solders. They live with Acehnese traditions and only speak Achinese and Indonesian.
de:Aceh
id:NAD
ms:NAD
nl:Atjeh
Related links
Top visited
0 of
0 links
[no links posted yet]
>> place link >>
Discussion
Last posted
0 of
0 messages
[no messages posted yet]
>> post message >>
Watch
You can
add this article to your own "watchlist" and receive e-mail notification about all changes in this page.
