Life After Conflict in Aceh, Indonesia
- 14 years ago
For decades, Indonesia's Aceh province was a war zone.
Separatist rebels were locked in battle with government troops for nearly 30 years as they sought independence for the Aceh region of Sumatra island.
15,000 people were killed in the fighting.
Then in 2004 hostilities abruptly ended after the Indian Ocean tsunami shattered Aceh.
Almost two-thirds of the estimated quarter of a million victims who perished died here.
Within days of the disaster, the rebels declared a ceasefire to allow aid to reach survivors, paving the way for a permanent truce.
Five years later the peace is holding and thousands of former rebels are returning to civilian life.
This former rebel is now a cattle farm manager.
[Fadlun, Former Aceh Rebel Fighter]:
"We want to make the Acehnese prosperous, give job opportunities to people in the neighbourhood and besides, we were already tired of fighting."
In the capital Banda Aceh, the feeling of forgiveness for the fighters is strong.
In 2006, in the first direct elections, a former rebel was elected governor and a pro-independence activist became the vice governor.
But observers say the real test of whether the guerrillas can live side-by-side with civilians they once hurt, has yet to come.
Nur Djuli is the chairman of a government body helping to reintegrate former fighters.
[Nur Djuli, Chairman, Aceh Peace-Reintegration Board]:
"There are I'm afraid tens of thousand of ex-combatant still without jobs, victims of conflicts, and not only that, youths who are jobless, and these are potential danger for the peace process."
While money and aid poured into to rebuild Aceh's devastated coastline, those living in the interior missed out on the handouts.
The 2004 tsunami may have checked the secessionist tide for now but, five years on, and the people of Aceh are still consumed with rebuilding their lives and communities.
Separatist rebels were locked in battle with government troops for nearly 30 years as they sought independence for the Aceh region of Sumatra island.
15,000 people were killed in the fighting.
Then in 2004 hostilities abruptly ended after the Indian Ocean tsunami shattered Aceh.
Almost two-thirds of the estimated quarter of a million victims who perished died here.
Within days of the disaster, the rebels declared a ceasefire to allow aid to reach survivors, paving the way for a permanent truce.
Five years later the peace is holding and thousands of former rebels are returning to civilian life.
This former rebel is now a cattle farm manager.
[Fadlun, Former Aceh Rebel Fighter]:
"We want to make the Acehnese prosperous, give job opportunities to people in the neighbourhood and besides, we were already tired of fighting."
In the capital Banda Aceh, the feeling of forgiveness for the fighters is strong.
In 2006, in the first direct elections, a former rebel was elected governor and a pro-independence activist became the vice governor.
But observers say the real test of whether the guerrillas can live side-by-side with civilians they once hurt, has yet to come.
Nur Djuli is the chairman of a government body helping to reintegrate former fighters.
[Nur Djuli, Chairman, Aceh Peace-Reintegration Board]:
"There are I'm afraid tens of thousand of ex-combatant still without jobs, victims of conflicts, and not only that, youths who are jobless, and these are potential danger for the peace process."
While money and aid poured into to rebuild Aceh's devastated coastline, those living in the interior missed out on the handouts.
The 2004 tsunami may have checked the secessionist tide for now but, five years on, and the people of Aceh are still consumed with rebuilding their lives and communities.