The supreme leader of the Aceh separatist movement will visit his homeland and family in October, ending a more than three-decade exile that began after a failed rebellion.

Hasan di Tiro first declared Aceh’s independence from Indonesia on Dec. 4, 1976. He will return to the province on Oct. 11, said Muzakir Manaf, leader of former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatants grouped in the Aceh Transition Commission (KPA), and chairman of the local Aceh Party.

Hasan has on several occasions attempted, but failed, to return to Aceh, following the peace agreement in Helsinki between the Indonesian government and separatists. Only a handful of GAM leaders signed the memorandum of understanding and visited Aceh to monitor its implementation.

“Hasan will return to Aceh to meet fellow Acehnese and visit his hometown,” said Muzakir, adding Hasan could stay in Aceh for two to four weeks.

Hasan’s proposed visit is being claimed as his own initiative, following suggestions from former GAM leaders, and not related to the current political condition in the province.

KPA spokesman Ibrahim KBS emphasized Hasan’s visit had nothing to do with the provincial administration and legislature.

“There are no plans to hold meetings with the provincial administration and legislature,” he said.

A delegation from the provincial legislative council failed to meet with Hasan in Sweden last August to discuss an ordinance on Wali Nanggroe, Aceh’s supreme leader during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda from 1590-1636.

The Aceh Party and the KPA have prepared special security details for Hasan’s arrival, saying they would still coordinate with the Swedish embassy in Jakarta and Aceh security authorities to “prevent unwanted circumstances”, said Ibrahim.

He added Hasan would be accompanied by a number of European Union officials, Indonesian diplomats based in Stockholm, and several Indonesian government representatives.

Ibrahim said he had yet to receive a detailed schedule of Hasan’s visit.

“Hasan has yet to announce his planned activities while in Aceh to the KPA. But one thing’s for sure: there will be meetings with a number of parties in Aceh to discuss the latest situation of the implementation of the Helsinki MOU,” he said.

“There will also be open meetings with Aceh residents in a number of places to be disclosed later.”

After declaring Aceh’s independence, Hasan mounted a military campaign against the Indonesian Military.

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