21 years after disaster helped bring peace to Aceh – has botched Indonesian response to floods reignited calls for independence?

A decades-long insurgency in the Indonesian province ended after 2004’s devastating tsunami. But pro-independence talk is on the rise again.

By: Azifah Astrina, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Universitas Gadjah Mada , The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 24, 2026

Words: 1,333

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

Body Text Preview

By Azifah Astrina, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Universitas Gadjah Mada

Thousands gathered at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on Aug. 15, 2026, to commemorate 21 years of peace between Indonesia and the separatist Free Aceh Movement, or GAM.

Some participants raised GAM’s red, black and white crescent-star flag and chanted “Free Aceh,” while others lowered Indonesia’s national flag and replaced it with the former separatist movement’s flag.

These were politically …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us