Aceh govt 'neglecting' west coast

Ridwan Max Sijabat and Hotli Simanjuntak ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta, Banda Aceh   |  Mon, 06/16/2008 10:03 AM  |  The Archipelago

An Acehnese legislator said Saturday the provincial government had turned a blind eye to the underdeveloped west coast, especially in education and health.

NASIR DJAMIL: (JP)

Nasir Djamil, a legislator of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said both the Acehnese governor and the provincial legislative council had ignored the widening gap between the east and west coasts and urged them to broaden their horizons to improve social welfare.

He was responding to the suspension of the proposed Aceh Leuser Antara and Southwest Aceh provinces, whose draft laws were recently accepted by the House of Representatives.

He said the proposed formation of the two provinces was a realistic solution to the underdevelopment and poverty problems plaguing the west coast. He said "With the new provinces, the people on the west coast will have the autonomy to deal with their own affairs and prioritize their issues."

Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf is reluctant to approve the new province because of regulations on the formation and merging of new regions, and the 2005 Helsinki peace pact. Instead, he has set up a special team led by the proposed Aceh Leuser Antara province leader Iwan Gayo to help expedite development and improve public services on the west coast.

Some 500 village heads and mass organizations sealed the Central Aceh regent's office in Takengon on June 9 demanding the government form the new provinces. Those still occupying the office threatened to boycott the 2009 general election unless the new provinces were formed by August.

Central Aceh Regent Muhammad Nasruddin has been reluctant to back the protesters, some saying he is trying to avoid friction with the governor.

If permitted to form, Aceh Leuser Antara will include Central Aceh, Gayo Lues, Bener Meriah, Aceh Singkil and Sabulussalam municipality, while Southwest Aceh will include Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, Nagan Raya, Southeast Aceh and South Aceh.

Nasir, also member of the House's commission II on home affairs, further said besides the different paces of development of the east and west coasts, which has created friction between east coasters and west coasters, the majority of west coasters do not feel part of Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam. He said they had been continuously intimidated by former members of the dissolved Free Aceh Movement (GAM), who wanted Aceh to be recognized as independent of Indonesia.

"Local elitists in Aceh, mainly the governor and councilors, should learn from South Sulawesi, where the Bugis, Makassar and Buton people are united despite the formation of the new East and West Sulawesi provinces," he said.

Bener Meriah Regent Tagore stood behind the protesters and said the government should be open to its people's political aspirations and respond in a democratic manner.

"I have joined forces with the people to fight for Aceh Leuser Antara, which is the only option left for the development of the region," he said.

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