Banda Aceh – More than 260 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, arrived in Aceh after floating at sea for days, an official said Monday.
The mostly Muslim ethnic Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and thousands risk their lives each year on long and dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
Cut Mery, Banda Aceh – The city government of Sabang, located in the conservative province of Aceh, issued a statement on Saturday banning any form of New Year celebrations, citing adherence to Islamic teachings.
Radhiyya Indra, Banda Aceh – As Aceh commemorates 20 years since the 2004 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands in the province, authorities are striving to ensure that people are better prepared when future disasters come knocking at the door.
Banda Aceh – A siren rang out as survivors and relatives of victims began commemorations Thursday for more than 220,000 people killed when a tsunami hit nations around the Indian Ocean 20 years ago.
Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies, Banda Aceh – Heri Syahrial thinks his family is here, somewhere under his feet and the crumbling path, amid the roots of the now-towering trees. Mum, Dad, grandmothers, niece, uncle, both brothers and a sister.
Norma Susanti R.M., The Conversation – The devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami remains etched in the memories of many, especially in Aceh, where the disaster claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Among the casualties, women were disproportionately affected in a ratio of four to one.
Chontida Auikool – 20 years have passed since the Aceh tsunami, which left deep scars on Indonesia, especially for those directly affected. Aceh was also recovering from a three-decade armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the national government
Zulfakriza Z. – 20 years have passed since the Aceh tsunami, which left deep scars on Indonesia, especially for those directly affected. Aceh was also recovering from a three-decade armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the national government
Jakarta – The Aceh Transition Committee (KPA) raised the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) flag during a ceremony that drew hundreds of attendees to commemorate GAM's 48th anniversary in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, on Wednesday.
Banda Aceh – More than 100 Rohingya refugees including women and children have been rescued after their boat sank off the coast of Indonesia, the United Nations refugee agency said on Saturday.
The mostly Muslim ethnic Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and thousands risk their lives each year on long and dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
Carolyn Cowan – Camera-trap surveys have documented a sizeable but struggling population of Sumatran tigers clinging on in unprotected forests in Indonesia's Aceh province.
Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The third debate of the Aceh Regional Election was forced to stop because supporters of the regional head candidates were involved in a brawl. These supporters were reported to push and argue with each other on the debate stage. The election debate took place at The Pade Hotel in Aceh Besar on Tuesday night, November 19, 2024.
In what claims to be the only woman-run cafe in the capital of Indonesia's most conservative province, owner Qurrata Ayuni says she and her baristas provide an alternative to rowdy, smoke-filled male haunts.
Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – A total of 152 Rohingya refugees finally returned to South Aceh after being rejected in Banda Aceh. The refugees from the conflict areas in Myanmar were previously relocated from South Aceh by the local government, approximately two weeks after they landed in the regency.
Agencies, Jakarta – Six people have died as nearly 100 Rohingya landed by boat in Aceh province, a local fishing community said on Thursday, in the latest wave of arrivals to Indonesia in recent days.
Miftach Tjut Adek, chief of the community, told Reuters that the 96 arrivals, including seven children, were still at the local beach in the eastern part of Aceh.
Jakarta – The United Nations refugee agency has appealed to Indonesia's government to rescue a boat languishing off its western coast packed with more than 100 Rohingya refugees including women and children.
Muzakir Nurdin, Central Aceh – The immigration office in Central Aceh in Indonesia's western province of Aceh deported three French nationals on Saturday for allegedly participating in the political campaign of a candidate running for regent.
Jakarta – A glittering ceremony at the North Sumatra Stadium in Deli Serdang on Friday night marked the end of the 21st National Games (PON), but the festivities were too late and too little to make up for the controversies that have marred the quadrennial sporting event.
A'an Suryana and Norshahril Saat – Negative reactions in Aceh to the ritual of rain shamanism do not mask the contradiction of parts of the Islamic community tolerating 'Islamic shamanism' or mysticism and ritual over science and modernity.
Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has pledged to evaluate the 21st National Games (PON) organization in Aceh and North Sumatra following widespread complaints over poor and incomplete infrastructure.
Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The Banda Aceh Police are investigating a grenade explosion in front of the house of Aceh gubernatorial candidate Bustami Hamzah in Syiah Kuala district, Banda Aceh city.
The city police's criminal investigation department head, Comr. Fadillah Aditya Pratama, said investigators had gathered evidence from the crime scene, including CCTV footage.
Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Wednesday announced a list of candidates the party will field in the November gubernatorial election, which included the name of the now-dissolved Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander at the top of the ticket in Aceh.
Jakarta – A Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member form Aceh, Sudirman Haji Uma, has written to Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) Inspector General Karyoto requesting that a transgender beauty contest held recently at a hotel in Central Jakarta be investigated.
Aceh – The Aceh Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) has rejected Government Regulation (PP) Number 28/2024 on Health, one of the points being that it regulates the provision of contraception for school-aged children.
Zul Akhyar, Banda Aceh – The Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) in Indonesia's northern-most province of Aceh has strongly condemned the Miss Beauty Star Indonesia 2024 transgender beauty contest that was held at the Orchardz Industri Hotel Grand Ballroom in Central Jakarta on August 4.
Haryudi, Aceh – The National Statistics Agency (BPS) recently released surprising data about rape cases in Indonesia. Based on the report "Criminal Statistics 2023" issued by the BPS, Aceh emerged as the province with the highest number of rape cases in 2023.
Chris Jewers – Three men have been brutally caned 42 times today for consuming alcohol and breaking Sharia law on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Pictures showed an intimidating executor, or 'algojo', gripping a rattan before carrying out the public caning against four men in front of Islamic court officials.
Jakarta – An incoming councilor from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has been nabbed for sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine) dealing and drug use.
The arrested politician, Sofyan, was elected in the February legislative election to sit at Aceh Tamiang Legislative Council in Aceh.
Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Alocal company belonging to a Chinese conglomerate is to build a cement factory in South Aceh regency, despite a nationwide moratorium in place since 2020.
Jakarta – Authorities in Aceh are planning to launch raids on restaurants in the province to seize food containing marijuana, as the conservative Muslim region is set to host the country's largest sports event, the National Games (PON), in September.
Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – Flooding due to the Krueng Kulu and Krueng Tadu Rivers overflow in Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh, has gradually receded.
Jakarta – The human remains at Rumoh Geudong are strong evidence of human rights violations. The government has an obligation to uncover the truth and bring justice.
Meulaboh, Indonesia – At a damaged temporary shelter in western Indonesia, Rohingya men slick their hair with gel while women apply make-up and colourful hijabs to look the part for prayers at the start of Eid-al-Fitr festivities.
Johannes Nugroho – The orange truck crammed with 75 Rohingya survivors of a capsized boat was told to hurry along by Indonesian police in Beureugang, West Aceh, as dozens of angry villagers gave chase, shouting "[we] reject the presence of refugees here!"
Antara, Meulaboh, Aceh – An Indonesian ulema has appealed to the people of Aceh to remain wise and uphold human values in responding to Rohingya refugees' presence in the province.
Taufik Kelana, Aceh – Four suspects involved in smuggling 75 Rohingya refugees into the waters of West Aceh have been arrested by the West Aceh District Police. Currently, they are awaiting legal proceedings.
Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is launching an investigation into the human bones that were discovered at the site of a memorial park in Aceh's Pidie regency to commemorate the victims of the Rumoh Geudong tragedy.
Pizaro Gozali Idrus for BenarNews, Jakarta, Indonesia – For the second time in three months, a belligerent and resentful crowd of locals in Indonesia's Aceh province made authorities move dozens of newly arrived Rohingya refugees from their shelter by storming the facility, officials said Wednesday.
Jakarta – Dozens of Rohingya refugees saved after their boat capsized off Indonesia's westernmost coast last week have been forced from their temporary shelter due to local protests, a United Nations refugee agency official said Wednesday.
Jakarta (Agencies) – The bodies of at least five Rohingya refugees have been recovered off Aceh coast after their boat believed to be carrying around 150 people capsized last week, United Nations officials said Monday.
Jakarta – Rescuers called off the search for Rohingya refugees missing at sea after their boat capsized, despite reports from some of the survivors that dozens of people were swept away.
Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies – More than 60 refugees are feared starved at sea or drowned while possibly trying to reach Australia by boat.
The wooden vessel was carrying scores of Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic minority in Myanmar, when it capsized on Wednesday near the city of Meulaboh in West Aceh.
Jakarta – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in a written statement, expressed their deep concern and mobilized support in response to the tragedy when a vessel transporting 151 Rohingya refugees overturned in Aceh, leading to a significant loss of life.
Jakarta – Fishermen in Aceh were scrambling on Wednesday to rescue dozens of Rohingya after high tides capsized their boat in waters off the province, a regional fishing chief said.
Teras.Id, Kabartamiang.Com, Jakarta – RJ and SL, two residents of Kampung Banjir, Karang Baru, Aceh Tamiang Regency, were sentenced to 100 strokes of the cane for being found guilty of adultery.
Both were convicted of violating the Aceh provincial regulation or Aceh Qanun Number 06/2014 on Jinayat, or Islamic criminal law.
Jakarta – Over 130 Rohingya landed on the shores of Aceh province on Thursday, an official at the UN refugee agency said, the latest in a series of such arrivals that have drawn controversy in the Southeast Asian country.
Rebecca Ratcliffe and Ardila Syakriah – In early December, hundreds of Rohingya refugees walked along the shore of Aceh province in Indonesia, with nothing to guide them but the faint glow of lights in a nearby village. After a treacherous journey by boat, they had already been turned away by locals in one area of Aceh and were seeking refuge elsewhere.
Catholic charity Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has joined other groups to deplore the ongoing smear campaign on social media sites vilifying Rohingya refugees in Indonesia.
A series of anti-Rohingya posts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, prompted the Indonesian government and media outlets to publish fact-checked articles over the past few days.
Jakarta – Civil society activists from a cross-section of organisations suspect that there is a major effort on social media to spread disinformation or false narratives in order to trigger opposition to Rohingya refugees in Indonesia's northern-most province of Aceh.
Jakarta – An Indonesian navy vessel in Aceh drove away a boat carrying Rohingya from Myanmar, a military spokesperson said, as growing numbers of would-be refugees from the strife-torn country face hostility from locals.
The wooden boat was encountered in waters near Weh Island, off Sumatra, Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Nugraha Gumilar said.