Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – The ethnically distinct and mostly conflict-free districts of central Aceh want Jakarta to let them break free from Aceh and establish a new province, preferably before next week.
They want to avoid being drawn into violent conflict when tougher military operations against separatist rebels are launched.
Leaders from the five regencies of central Aceh, south-east Aceh, Singkil, Gayo Luas, and Tamiang made their demands this week in a move which would mean missing out on Aceh's oil and gas riches.
But regents from the central highlands and south-eastern regions of Aceh appear unconcerned about the huge revenue handouts, stressing that avoiding violence is their major concern.
Central Aceh regent Mustafa Tami told Chief Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this week that the majority of people in the five regencies wanted a new province created.
"Pak Commander, now is the right time to release us from the continuing grievance of having supported a unitary state," he told the security minister before a crowd of local officials.
Under a special autonomy law, Aceh's regional government receives up to 30 per cent of gas and oil revenues from Jakarta.
On Monday, Jakarta is due to announce a new policy for the province which many commentators predict will be a tougher military operation aimed at eliminating the separatist rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
"We want to form a new province since GAM is trying to force the implementation of Islamic law. People in the five regencies are not serious about that," said businessman Munawir Rajali.
When Mr Susilo toured the central Aceh district, he was met by thousands of people, along with tribal and religious leaders who said they wanted to separate from Aceh.
The central highlands of Aceh, known as the Gayo region, are ethnically distinct from the coastal lowland regions and there is little interest from people in this area in demanding independence or a referendum to determine Aceh's future.
People in south-east and south Aceh are racially closer to northern Sumatrans rather than the Acehnese, who speak a different language and have a proud history. Until recently, central and south-east Aceh have not been involved in the violent conflict between GAM rebels and Indonesian troops.
But last year, central Aceh's main city Takengon was the scene of violence when Javanese migrants were attacked by GAM, and thousands fled to Sumatra.
An official from the Regional Autonomy Office confirmed that the five regencies had submitted a proposal, including submissions proving that the majority of people in these regions wanted a new province.
The new province would be called Leuser Antara after the Leuser national park, a large national park which straddles Aceh and north Sumatra.
However, Regional Autonomy official Hery Herman said the regents would need approval from their district parliament and the regional parliament before they could split and form a new province.