Adi Warsidi, Jakarta – The Indonesian government officially inaugurated the construction of the Memorial Living Park built on the former site of the Rumoh Geudong Static Post during the military operation area (DOM) in Gampong Bili, Glumpang Tiga District, Pidie Regency, Aceh, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
The inauguration was attended by Minister Coordinator for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra; Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto; Deputy Governor of Aceh Fadhlullah; and Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti.
The 7-hectare Memorial Living Park includes a mosque, memorial activities, and pilgrimage sites where visitors can learn about the dark tragedy of Rumoh Geudong. The construction of the area cost Rp13.2 billion and lasted from October 18, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
Deputy Governor of Aceh Fadhlullah took the opportunity to urge the attending ministers to expedite the promised compensation to all victims of serious human rights violations during the DOM in Aceh.
He stated, "The people around here have experienced the Aceh conflict from 1976, 1998, then the reformation until the continuation of peace. The people around here have experienced the Red Net operation, the Green Net operation, and military and civilian emergencies. We hope to provide them with compensation as promised by Mr. Jokowi when he visited Rumoh Geudong."
Fadhlullah mentioned that a few days ago, they met with 28 representatives of the DOM conflict victims who demanded proper compensation. "Several hundred people were submitted, but at that time they reported to us that they had not received anything," he said.
During the same event, the Deputy Governor of Aceh also recalled the brutal tragedy at Rumoh Geudong, which he witnessed himself as a teenager. As is known, Deputy Governor Fadhlullah is from Pidie's Glumpang Tiga District, specifically the Rumoh Geudong area.
"This is my village, where the injustice happened 30 years ago. I witnessed it here myself, and my friends and I were often lined up by the TNI at that time," said Fadhlullah.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the Memorial Living Park is more than just a public space; it is also a place for remembrance and recovery. It is a concrete step by the government to handle past serious human rights violations non-judicially.
"During President Jokowi's tenure, the government openly acknowledged past serious human rights violations. This acknowledgment is the beginning of the process of restoring the rights of the victims, and the construction of this public space is also a form of tribute to the past generation," said Yusril.
Yusril hopes that the Memorial Living Park area can be well-maintained and transformed into a historical monument that serves as a spiritual healer and beacon of hope for the people of Aceh.
"Many historical buildings and monuments have been built but left to decay. Even though they were built to commemorate the past and to build a better future, that's why we are taking steps at the center to provide funding to maintain and preserve this building to the best of our ability."
In January 2023, President Jokowi acknowledged 12 past serious human rights violations that occurred in Indonesia. Three of them happened in Aceh, namely in North Aceh, Pidie, and South Aceh.
The three serious human rights violations are: firstly, the incident at Rumoh Geudong and the Pos Sattis in Aceh in 1998. The location of Rumoh Geudong is in Desa Bili, Aron District, Glumpang Tiga Sub-District, Pidie Regency.
Secondly, the incident at Simpang KKA in Aceh in 1999. Simpang KKA is a road junction near the PT Kertas Kraft Aceh factory in Dewantara District, North Aceh.
The third incident is the tragedy at Jambo Keupok in Aceh in 2003. This incident occurred in Jambo Keupok Village, Bakongan Sub-District, South Aceh.
In June 2023, President Jokowi launched a non-judicial recovery program for the victims of the 12 cases of past serious human rights violations from the Rumoh Geudong location in Pidie. At that time, the president also began construction of the Memorial Living Park to resolve past human rights violations.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2026745/indonesian-govt-inaugurates-rumoh-geudong-memorial-living-par