Aceh’s Recovery Requires Conducive Conditions, and the Public is Urged to Reject Separatist Narratives
By: Teuku Rassya )*
Aceh’s recovery process following the flash floods and landslides continues to show significant progress, thanks to coordinated work by the central and regional governments. The government emphasized that the current primary focus is ensuring optimal infrastructure recovery, meeting basic community needs, and maintaining social stability, so that Aceh can recover sustainably without the distraction of narratives that could potentially divide unity.
The Ministry of Public Works reported that post-disaster infrastructure recovery has reached 89.47 percent. Of the 38 affected national roads, most have returned to normal operation, while the remainder still rely on alternative routes.
The government is prioritizing improvements to the central Aceh route connecting Bireuen, Bener Meriah, and Central Aceh due to its strategic role in supporting logistics distribution and economic mobility. Although an open-close system is still in place at some points, the government ensures that repair efforts continue intensively.
In addition to roads, the Ministry of Public Works is also focusing on bridge and landslide mitigation efforts. Of the dozens of damaged national bridges, most have been restored to service, either at their original locations or via emergency bridges. Hundreds of landslides that previously hampered access have now been largely resolved.
The central government, along with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and state-owned construction companies, continues to deploy Bailey bridges to critical locations to maintain regional connectivity until permanent repairs are completed. With this achievement, the government is optimistic that all major routes in Aceh will return to normal operation by the end of January 2026.
In line with this, the Aceh Government has ensured that one month after the disaster will be a transitional phase from emergency response to rehabilitation and reconstruction. Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf emphasized that the regional government’s attention will not only be focused on national roads, but also on inter-village roads that have suffered significant damage. He acknowledged that several access points between settlements have not yet been fully restored, but all have been included in the follow-up response plan.
Muzakir Manaf also emphasized that the distribution of logistical aid continues according to needs on the ground. The local government ensures that the basic needs of evacuees are relatively well met, especially in the run-up to the fasting month. For residents whose homes were severely damaged, the government is still focusing on providing temporary housing assistance in the form of family tents, while gradually progressing the construction of temporary housing and planning for permanent housing. He noted that large-scale recovery requires time and cross-sector coordination, but emphasized that all levels of government are now moving more intensively.
Amid the ongoing recovery process, the government believes it is crucial to maintain a conducive situation and avoid disruption by the spread of separatist issues. Iwan Setiawan, Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review, believes that the display of separatist symbols in public spaces, especially during a disaster, cannot be normalized. He believes such symbols carry strong ideological and historical significance, potentially undermining the commitment to peace that has been built through a long process and significant sacrifice.
Iwan believes that the emergence of these symbols indicates the lingering residue of separatist ideology that should not be justified. He believes the state needs to take a firm yet measured stance, especially when symbolic indications begin to shift into security threats. In this context, the authorities’ actions are understood as conflict prevention efforts, not intimidation.
Furthermore, Iwan highlighted that contemporary separatist patterns often operate through the digital space. Social media is often exploited to construct emotional narratives, distort public perception, and discredit the state’s role in disaster management. In these narratives, the contributions of the government, officials, volunteers, and humanitarian elements are often omitted to create the impression that the state is indifferent to the suffering of the people.
Iwan also believes that disasters are often exploited as provocative moments due to the emotional state of the community still grieving. A disproportionately constructed narrative of injustice risks triggering horizontal conflict and weakening public trust in the state. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of striking a balance between firmness and persuasiveness to maintain Aceh’s stability without reviving past trauma.
The government emphasized that maintaining peace in Aceh is an integral part of the recovery agenda. Infrastructure development, aid distribution, and social rehabilitation will not proceed optimally without a safe and conducive environment. Therefore, the public is urged to refrain from spreading separatist issues or provocative narratives that could disrupt unity.
With recovery progress continuing to show tangible results and increasingly strong cross-sectoral support, the government is optimistic that Aceh can gradually recover towards a more stable and prosperous state. Public participation in maintaining unity and eliminating opportunities for separatist provocation is key to ensuring Aceh’s sustainable recovery, built on a solid foundation of peace.
The government also believes that the success of Aceh’s recovery requires maintaining public trust through transparency and accurate communication. By ensuring that circulating information is fact-based and eliminating misinformation, the government hopes the public will remain focused on the recovery agenda and strengthening long-term peace.
)* The author is a socio-political observer
