Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – It has been a year since Aceh held a direct gubernatorial election made possible by the peace agreement between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), yet analysts say little progress has been made in improving the lives of residents.
The administration of Governor Irwandy Yusuf and Deputy Governor Muhammad Nazar has come under increasingly strong criticism because of the perceived lack of development, unresolved human rights abuses and corruption cases, and the slow pace of reconstruction after the 2004 tsunami and decades of war.
Nasir Jamil, a provincial legislator from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said the peace agreement with Jakarta had ushered in peace and political stability. However, he said many of the programs outlined in the peace deal and the 2006 law on the Aceh administration had yet to be accomplished.
"The reconciliation and justice committee mandated by the peace agreement has yet to be established, while the reintegration program has not been accomplished yet. This could lead the Acehnese to lose confidence in the provincial government," he told The Jakarta Post recently.
The 2006 law on the Aceh administration was passed after the peace agreement was signed by the Indonesian government and GAM in Helsinki, Finland, on Aug. 15, 2005, ending a conflict that claimed more than 2,000 lives between 1976 and 2005.
The earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in December, 2004, helped prompt the conflicting sides to reach the peace deal.
Despite its newfound peace and security, the province of four million people has yet to experience any significant economic growth. Poverty and unemployment remain huge problems, and foreign investors have not entered the province as hoped.
Nasir said Irwandy and Nazar have failed to show any true vision in leading Aceh. "So far, most people are still confused by the way the two leaders are governing the province."
He warned the majority of Acehnese would support the proposed formation of new Aceh Leuser Antara and Southwest Aceh provinces if the administration failed to resolve the economic, health and education problems.
Human rights activist Rukaiyah said Irwandy's government had failed to implement the peace agreement, which mandated ad hoc trials for human rights violators and the reintegration of rights abuse victims back into society.
"Most rights abuse victims have yet to receive any compensation from the government or to see justice for those perpetrating human rights abuses during the conflict," he said.
He also criticized Irwandy's letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asking for amnesty for former Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh, who is in jail for corruption. He said the letter discouraged reform of the corrupt bureaucracy in the province. "Many corruption cases in the provincial government and regencies have not been brought to court," he added.
Pro-democracy activist Reihan Diani called on Acehnese to exercise patience and give the provincial administration another year. "It is premature for us now to make any judgments given the major problems the government has to solve," she said.
Responding to critics, Irwandy has said his administration has been effective after a slow start, pointing out it took six months to get the 2007 provincial budget passed. He also said his administration planned to establish the reconciliation and justice committee and intensify the reintegration program this year.
Irwandy also criticized the proposal to create two new provinces, saying the idea originated in Jakarta and could disrupt peace and political stability in Aceh.