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Aceh given 15 days to rethink own bylaw

Source
Jakarta Post - April 3, 2013

Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – The central government has given the Aceh provincial administration 15 days to clarify Qanun (Bylaw) No. 3/2013 on the Aceh provincial flag and coat of arms by sending a letter to Aceh's governor and the Aceh Legislative Council (DPRA).

The qanun, which took effect on March 25, assigns the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) flag and the Bouraq-and-Lion as the Aceh provincial flag and symbol.

The clarification letter was conveyed by Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi through Director General of Regional Autonomy, Djohermansyah Djohan, in a closed-door meeting with Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah.

"We have held a meeting with every party in the Aceh administration: the governor, legislative council, vice governor and stakeholders of qanun No. 3," Djohermansyah told the media after the meeting.

In the meeting, the central government gave the Aceh provincial administration 15 days to study the clarification letter, especially regarding the problematic qanun.

"We have given them a deadline and we expect them to follow it up with a revision of the qanun" said Djohermansyah, but did not elaborate the demands of the central government about the form of the flag and emblem.

"We have asked them for clarification including matters on public interest, which are related to the procedures for determining regulations in relation to higher laws, as well as the legal implications of the qanun," he added.

In addition, the Home Ministry gave special direction regarding the Aceh flag, such as its shape, procedures for its use, design, function and basic points of reminder. These are some of the matters that the Aceh administration and legislature must consider.

"The initial meeting went well, so the qanun is expected to be in line with the Helsinki peace accord," said Djohermansyah.

Regarding the letter, Zaini said he would study it immediately. "We will complete our consideration of it in less than two weeks. I heard the home minister will visit Aceh in the near future so I believe we should complete it as soon as possible," he said.

Zaini did not say whether or not the flag and symbol would be changed before further meetings were held.

Commenting on the hoisting of the Indonesian red and white flag to replace the crescent and star, such as took place in Meulaboh, Zaini said he believed the act was carried out by a small group that wished to profit from the situation. "It will not break up the Aceh community," he said.

Residents living in Central Aceh, Southeast Aceh and West Aceh have raised objections to the GAM flag being made the official provincial flag and have threatened to secede from Aceh and form a new province.

"Should the Aceh administration be compelled to do so, it should allow the central and Southeast regions to become a new province," said Waladan Yoga of Free Gayo.

The coercive use of GAM flag shows that the Aceh administration do not have the desire to develop the central and southeast regions, he added. These mountainous regions received less budget than the coastal areas.

"We will never hoist the GAM flag because it is not our flag as residents of Central and Southeast Aceh," said Waladan.

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