Peace process in Aceh has to be saved as the conditions have not been conducive lately.

           

ven though the Helsinki Peace Agreement for Aceh was signed almost two years ago, the actual condition in the field is still “hostile” due to frictions and fractions among different groups within Acehnese society. It is normal because gaining peace is not as easy as gaining a peace agreement. Experiences such as in Assam (India), Abkhazia (Georgia), Cyprus, Ivory Coast, Kashmir, Maldove, Srilanka, Mindanao, and Northern Ireland show that a mere peace agreement will not “automatically” change people’s conditions; it takes time to gain the peace.

Ideally, the increasingly fragile situations in Aceh recently should be looked through this perspective because the transition process will undoubtedly need some times as new life after the conflict finds its form for many Acehnese, especially those who were directly involved in the war. Just like an unpacked jute bag that should be “stuffed” more so that spaces of life can be filled and run effectively.

This note is meant to refresh our memory about an alternative thought in order for Aceh to leave its transition phase as soon as possible. The interventions aim toward efforts that try to find more effective domains. Therefore, the call for dancing “seudati” (one of Acehnese traditional dances), as the title of this article, does not mean a call for a mere dancing and hilarity but it is a strategy pertaining effective attainment of our goals, that is changing our point  of views, attitudes, and behaviors. As a matter of fact, art, in its broader meaning, proves to be effective and persuasive medium of conveying messages.

Escalated Conflict
There have been a lot of agendas following Helsinki’s agreement that need to be carried out, for example, the reintegration of GAM fighters into the society, mental therapy for conflict survivors, reinforcement of regulations such as UUPA (LoGA) and qanuns (local laws), the establishment of local political parties, and anticipative policies toward sporadic security disturbances such as incident in Alue Dua, Nisam (Serambi Indonesia, 23/03/07)

While the existing problems are not solved yet, we are faced with some new problems. Recently, more criminal acts are occurring. For instance, acts of terror that were aimed to the Mayor of Lhokseumawe City, the Regent of Aceh Utara, former head of KPA (transition committee for Aceh), and the Head of House of Representative of Pidie District.

Who stand behind of all these acts? We often asked, yet more often failed to find the answer, or we tend to ignore the incidents for the sake of our own safety, economic, or possibly other personal reasons. Consequently, we simply say that there are certain parties (individuals or institutions) who do not want to see peace in Aceh.

Who those certain parties are is not clear.  Even, it seems, we lie to ourselves; as if saying there were third parties we would have calmed ourselves down. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: whoever did those acts, the emergence of these crimes and violence is proven to be part of “hi-politics”.

We, of course, do not want to polemicize these issues because polemics will only open more doors for the third parties and free riders to come in. The third parties will easily manipulate situations so that scapegoats will eventually become target of prejudice. This will then affect parties that are trying to attain the peace. Let us summarize one thing; whoever committed the crimes lately is criminal, without other attributes. Because he or she is criminal, he or she should be tried and punished no matter who she or he is.

Regarding this issue, a crucial thing that we need to do, as a preventive precaution, is raising public awareness. This is important in order for the people not to get provoked. It is also important that we pay attention to those who have potentials – either consciously or unconsciously - to create chaos, either due to psychological, economic, or political motivations. We do hope that everybody understands that the peace we are attaining now is invaluable, and our goal to fix this peace is on the way.

Then, do the art…
As has been said, let us support the effort to raise public awareness. Use all kinds of media such as discussions and religious preaching; in the offices, meunasahs (Acehnese name for a building intended for religious gathering but smaller than a mosque); in the cities and villages. However, art and cultural approaches are not becoming mainstream approaches within all of those conventional media despite the fact that it is through art, messages would be easily absorbed.

There are some reasons supporting this assumption: Firstly, Acehnese is known for their oral traditions. For example, Agus Nur Amal PMTOH who gets audiences’ attention effectively with his troubadour story telling. Expensive instruments or complicated musical arrangements are not needed to present this kind of work of art. This is also due to the fact that Acehnese are fond of oral traditions. Sociologically, there is also this informal discussion tradition in coffee shops in Aceh which is quite phenomenal.

Secondly, studies about communication effectiveness show that not everybody will spontaneously pay attention and think about messages that he or she hears or sees. Two crucial aspects are needed to process a message into human system processor and consciousness; namely motivation and the ability to get involved in a thinking process.  These two aspects are considered important to lead human beings into thinking process. As a result of this thinking process, attitude and point of views will change.

As linear processes, the above phases can be visualized as follow: (1) message, (2) ability and motivation, (3) thinking, (4) awareness, and (5) action. If we do not want to think, it is impossible to raise our awareness, let alone to implement our real actions.

Furthermore, two social psychologists, Petty & Cacioppo (1989) assert that there are two ways a person can take in processing information; central route (analytical processing) and peripheral route (processing with familiar symbols). Everybody, in every context, always chooses different ways in processing information. Some will understand easier if asked to think analytically, but majority of people will understand easier if asked to think with symbols.
 

Thirdly, studies about conflict and motivation show that people from post-conflict zone tend to suffer from self-helplessness syndrome. This attitude becomes a social character through social learning and repeated disappointments. Often times, people hope for changes, but their hopes never come true – hoping and getting disappointed – this always happens until they stop hoping. 

This syndrome causes people to be unmotivated to try, even to try to think, let alone to act. Palestinians and Lebanese people, for instance, clearly say that “We are afraid of planning because every plan that we made never came true. Let this life be like this without any plans.”

For Middle East and Aceh context during conflict era, this phenomenon was understandable. The situation was not safe. Ironically, even after Helsinki agreement, when the situation is relatively safer; and during the post-tsunami reconstruction, when aids and money are plundering Aceh, Acehnese people are still disappointed with their hopes to change the life.

In response to the three assumptions, strategic communication should be begun by giving light stimuli – using symbols, sound and voice, and recreational patterns to bring the audience to a point where they are emotionally influenced; the message to think analytically then can be conveyed.

The medium of art-culture is proven to have high persuasive values. Art-culture, in this case, does not only include dances but also any forms of arts such as visual art, painting, drama either in the forms of audio or audio-visual (short drama, documentary film and etc.).

For sure, this idea is not new. As far as I know, this kind of campaign used to be done by some friends from the Association of Aceh Jakarta-based Artists (SAJAK) in the beginning of 2000s. It is necessary that this idea is promoted again and becomes mainstream idea that is supported collectively.

Conclusion

There are two things to note: First, with all my lack of expertise, this writing is yet to be comprehensive. Therefore, I call for involvements of communication, art, culture experts to further elaborate this idea. It is my hope that we find strong justification so that some peace campaigns through art and culture can be done collectively and supported by local government, BRR, INGOs (which focus on conflict recovery), businessmen, artists and culture experts, and the society.

Second, peace process should be saved because situation in Aceh does not seem to be conducive lately.  If we have to return to the point we used to be, Aceh will return to the darkness again.  During 2002 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), we indeed reached a progress but then it failed; one of the reasons for its failure was the peace campaign that was relatively not communicative. We do hope that failure will not happen this time.

We believe every party has worked hard. However, we have to work harder plus a little creativity. Aceh peace is a challenge as well as a medium to begin a new life in Aceh. It is important to avoid image that sees current droe keu droe (self) government is not able to lead Aceh. That said, move the feet and perform Seudati dance!  (translated by Faizak)

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