The Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam law: a serious response to Acehnese separatism?

Author: Michelle Ann Miller

Source: Asian Ethnicity, Volume 5, Number 3, October 2004 , pp. 333-351(19)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The passing of Law No. 18 of 2001 on 'Special Autonomy for the Province of Aceh Special Region as the Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam' signified a major development in the Indonesian government's strategy to resolve Aceh's protracted conflict. Ratified by President Megawati Sukarnoputri on 9 August 2001, the 'NAD law' conferred unprecedented authority to Aceh over its internal affairs. This paper evaluates the challenges that have been involved in implementing the three main tenets of the legislation -- aspects of Syari'ah (Islamic law), the return of Aceh's natural resource revenue and a provision to hold direct local elections. The paper argues that the Megawati administration's failure to redress Acehnese grievances through special autonomy largely stems from its suspicion of the NAD law itself, its greater reliance on militaristic measures than on political policies in Aceh, and pre-existing systemic factors such as Aceh's dysfunctional state infrastructure, corrupt political culture and war economy.

Keywords: Aceh; decentralisation; autonomy; Syari'ah; revenue; election

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1463136042000259789

Affiliations: 1: Charles Darwin University Darwin Australia

Publication date: 2004-10-01

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