Peace and Local Politics in The
Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province
National Survey March 2006
Summary
6 months after the implementation of the peace agreement (Helsinki Accord) the situation in the
Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province has improved. The general public in Aceh share the
feeling of security from any kind of armed conflicts. The large proportion of the respondents (76%) -who acknowledge that the security condition in Aceh is improving- shows that the MoU has been implemented and works well on the ground.
The feeling of safety from any armed conflicts is apparent, but the feeling that peace has brought in
political freedom is still limited. In districts where the Aceh Independent Movement (GAM) used to hold strong support, there is some degree of fear to talk about politics, to face unlawful arrest by the armed force, or to join any social/political organizations. This shows that the peace agreement has eliminated armed conflict, but has not yet presented freedom and justice to the people of Aceh.
Weak economy is the major problem that people of Aceh are now facing. Only 22% of the
respondents feel that the economy is good or very good. People in the rural and urban areas
complain on this issue. In fact, 40% of the people feel that the economic condition is bad and very bad.
The people of Aceh truly welcomes the Peace agreement, which is long overdue. The majority of the
Summary
The performance of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) has been perceived positively by the people
of Aceh. Its performance is considered to have positive effects on the implementation of the Helsinki Accord and smoothen the process of reconciliation.
Some elements of the population in Aceh still think that GAM has not conceded to the idea of
independence and secession from the Republic of Indonesia. Only half of Acehnese (48%) think that GAM will abandoned its secession struggles. This doubt about GAM is even stronger in previously GAM dominated districts; where only 4 of 10 Acehnese feel that GAM struggle for independence has ended.
The people of Aceh think that The Indonesian Government has performed well. 85% of the
population in Aceh views that the Indonesian Government has successfully mediated reconciliation between the former GAM members and the other Indonesian citizens. More than three fourth of the population in Aceh think positively about the Indonesian Government effort in implementing the Helsinki Accord. These are the Indonesian Government accomplishments that should be
appreciated.
More than half of the people in Aceh (57%) do not know that the Governor, Regents, and Mayors
will be elected directly by the people.
Majority of the people support that idea of local party and independent (non-partisan) candidates.
Method and data
The Survey was conducted in March 2006.
Sample Size: 1015.
Margin of Error is +/- 3.1% with 95% level of confidence.
Sampling Method: Multistage random sampling.
Interview: Face to face interview with the respondents.
Quality control: Spot check was performed for 20% of the total
sample by area coordinator and by a researcher from the LSI
headquarter in Jakarta.
Note: Districts that are previously dominated by GAM include Aceh
All villages in the province of NAD
Villages in each district are selected proportional and randomly.
In each selected RT, 4 households (HH) are selected randomly
In each selected household, one eligible voter (adult) is selected randomly. (Man/Woman)
Vil. 1 … Vil. n
Demographic Profile of the respondents compared to the Province
of NAD Census Data by Indonesian Bureau of Statistics (BPS)
(In %)
50 years old or older
13.5 19 years or younger
ETHNICITY AGE
2.9 8.3
Colledge Educated or higher
Catholic 17.5
27.3 Senior High School Graduate
1.9 0.1
Protestant 17.6
23.9 Junior High School Graduate
97.3 98.5
Islam 61.9*
40.5 Elementary Education or lower
Security, Law Enforcement, and Economic Condition in
the NAD Province (%; Very Good & Good)
76%
51%
22%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Economic Condition
Rural, 26%
Rural, 32%
Urban, 10%
Urban, 8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Most Urgent Problems in NAD
High Price of Basic NeedsDifficulty in finding employment
Corruption/Nepotism/Collusion
Poor Transportation Infrastucture
Expensive Education Cost
Security & Social Order
No Trusted Leaders
Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM)
Yes, 68%
Good/ Very Good
, 88%
Ever heard about the Aceh Monitoring
Mission (AMM)
Peace Agreement Between GAM – The Government of Indonesia
Very Confidence /
Quite Confidence ,
61%
Very Significant/ Significant Progress, 73%
Progress in implementing peace accord between GAM
and GoI
The Current peace agreement between
GAM dan GoI will lead to peaceful Aceh
GAM will not continue the struggle for independence of Aceh from the
Republic of Indonesia
Very/ Quite
Confidence, 43%
Very/ Quite
Confidence, 53%
Very/ Quite
Confidence, 48%
Previously GAM Dominated
Districts
Districts With No Previous
GAM Domination
Government Performance
Good / Very
Good, 85%
Good / Very
Good, 77%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
The Government Performance in
Mediating Reconciliation between
former members of GAM and other
Indonesian citizens
Have heard that Governor, Regents, and Mayors will be
elected directly through general election?
Rural, 40%
Rural, 36%
Urban, 17%
Urban, 7%
0% 20% 40% 60%
Opinion of the Resident of NAD regarding Local
Political Party (By ethnicity: Acehnese, Gayo,
Javanese)
Agree/ Strongly
Agree, 67%
Agree/ Strongly
Agree, 30%
Agree/ Strongly
Agree, 26%
Independent Candidates for Governor, Regents, and Mayors
Don't Know,
20%
Disagree/
Strongly
How confident are you that there will be no intimidation at
the local election?
Very/Quite Confident, 62%
Very/Quite Confident, 53%
Very/Quite Confident, 72%
All Aceh Previously GAM Dominated Districts
Fear to Talk About Politics
Always/ Often,
48%
Always/ Often,
29%
Always/ Often,
38%
Previously GAM
Dominated Districts
Districts With No Previous
Fear to Face Unlawful Arrest by the Armed
Forces or Law Enforcement Officers
Always/Often, 59% Always/Often,
41% Always/Often,
50%
Previously GAM
Dominated Districts
Districts With No Previous
Discussion
Election serves as avenue for the people of NAD to articulate their aspirations directly, freely,
and secretly. In the districts where GAM was a dominant force, only half of the respondents (53%) feel that they can articulate their aspiration freely. This indicates that previous
experience of intimidations –either done by the Indonesian Armed Forces or by the Members of GAM- had made these citizens have doubts whether the current peace agreement can bring about freedom of expression.
Views on political freedom vary across districts, especial differences are apparent between
previously GAM dominated districts and the non-GAM dominated districts. In the previously GAM dominated districts, citizens have some degree of fear in joining
associations/organizations or in facing unlawful arrest (59%).
The lack of political freedom is correlated with the degree of skepticism about GAM
intentions. Therefore, to build confidence that the peace agreement will last, the Indonesian Government need to ensure the presence of political freedom and freedom from
Conclusion
The people of Aceh have experience peace in the form of “absent of conflict”
however they have not yet experience the presence of freedom and the presence
of justice.
The most critical problem in NAD is the economy. The people of Aceh, in the
urban and rural areas, complain about economic pressures that they are
experiencing.
The desire to allow local (Aceh based) political party is shared by the majority of
Acehnese.
