By: Cut Anggina Nurhayati*
Aceh entered the post-hydrometeorological disaster recovery phase with one key message firmly entrenched in society: rejecting all forms of separatism and focusing on rebuilding a shared life. While a small group attempted to revive old, ideologically charged symbols, mainstream Acehnese society displayed the opposite stance. Social solidarity, state presence, and concrete recovery efforts on the ground are the strongest responses to closing the space for provocation and maintaining the peace that has been fought for over the past two decades.
Several observers believe that the raising of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) symbol after the disaster is inseparable from efforts to construct a narrative of conflict amidst the crisis. The Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review, Iwan Setiawan, believes that the symbol has ideological and historical significance, synonymous with past armed separatism. Therefore, he believes that the normalization of this symbol has the potential to disrupt social stability, especially as the community is still struggling to recover from the impact of floods and landslides.
In this context, Iwan observed a narrative war in the public sphere and on social media that attempted to discredit the role of the state. He assessed that some provocations emerged by framing the state as absent or unresponsive, when the facts on the ground showed otherwise. He argued that such narratives were inconsistent with the reality of the ongoing recovery work and risked damaging public trust if not responded proportionally.
On the ground, Aceh, however, showed a different face. The central and regional governments moved quickly since the emergency response phase and are now gradually consolidating steps towards recovery. In Aceh Tamiang Regency, the public openly expressed their appreciation for the government’s response, which they considered swift, coordinated, and oriented towards sustainable recovery. The state’s presence was felt not only in the form of policies but also through concrete work that directly addressed the needs of the people.
The restoration of national road infrastructure is an important indicator of the sustainability of this response. The Ministry of Public Works, through the Aceh National Road Implementation Center, completed the repair of seven national roads, totaling nearly 36 kilometers. This step was considered crucial because roads are the backbone of public mobility and logistics distribution. With normal connectivity, economic activity began to resume, public services resumed, and the rhythm of social life gradually returned.
The large-scale deployment of dozens of units of heavy equipment and field personnel reflects the government’s capacity to act quickly and measurably. In addition to accelerating sediment removal and road repairs, the labor-intensive approach involving local workers also has a direct economic impact on affected communities. For residents, infrastructure restoration is not just a physical project, but a source of hope that strengthens optimism amidst limitations.
The government’s attention goes beyond national roads. Inner-city road access connecting markets, schools, community health centers, and hospitals has also been restored to allow basic services to return to normal. This strategy is considered effective because it directly impacts people’s daily lives. Market economic activity has revived, education and health services are functioning again, and public spaces have once again become centers of social interaction.
At the national level, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that several regions in Aceh have entered the transition phase from emergency response to recovery. This shift in focus is seen as a signal of the government’s readiness to move to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase in a systematic and data-driven manner. For the community, this transition reinforces the belief that recovery is not temporary but is designed to be sustainable.
The central government’s commitment is also evident in the coordination across ministries and institutions. The government emphasized that Aceh’s recovery is being implemented as part of a comprehensive national policy. President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to mobilize all state resources provides a strong foundation for accelerating rehabilitation and reconstruction. Synergy between the central and regional governments, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and volunteers is considered key to maintaining social stability and accelerating recovery.
The planning of temporary housing areas equipped with supporting facilities also strengthens social recovery. The government and SOEs are seen as not stopping at providing physical infrastructure but also considering the sustainability of community life. The rebuilt social spaces serve as a means of community consolidation and strengthening social ties post-disaster.
In this context, fAceh’s focus during the recovery phase is the most effective antidote to separatist issues. When citizens’ basic needs are met, public trust in the state is strengthened, and living spaces return to normal, symbolic provocations lose their appeal. The Acehnese people demonstrate that the future is built through collective work, not by reviving past conflicts.
Post-disaster recovery in Aceh is ultimately not just about building roads, housing, and public facilities, but also about maintaining peace and stability. With a visible state presence and active community participation, Aceh affirms its choice: to rise, unite, and move forward, while firmly closing the door to separatist narratives that are no longer relevant to the people’s aspirations.
*The author is an academic and lecturer in Public Policy.
