JakartaPost/Kompas-Nov 6
The government has said it would launch an investigation into the fatal shooting in Pidie regency, Aceh, where a civilian was reportedly shot dead in a clash with soldiers after the hoisting of the crescent and star flag resembling those of the past separatist movement. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the government was “deeply concerned” by the incident and that it must be “resolved in good faith”. “The government has agreed to conduct an investigation into the shooting incident to determine who carried it out and who is responsible and will take steps to enforce the law regarding this case,” Yusril said on the sidelines of a work visit to Banda Aceh, as quoted by Kompas.com. Yusril did not elaborate on which institution would lead the investigation into the deadly clash that took place on Wednesday at a community center in Pulo Keunari village, where scores of residents had gathered to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. The unrest reportedly began when a platoon of soldiers from the Lilawangsa Military Resort Command arrived at the gathering sometime on that afternoon, demanding that the crescent and star flag displayed at the venue be taken down. The flag has long been a contentious symbol in Aceh due to its association with the now-dissolved Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which fought decades-long separatist insurgency against Indonesia until the signing of a peace deal in 2005. In 2013, Aceh adopted the flag as its provincial banner, invoking its special autonomy rights agreed by the peace deal. The central government, however, objected to the GAM-associated design, turning the flag into a longstanding source of tension between Jakarta and Aceh. Nurzahri, a special staffer to the Aceh governor, told The Jakarta Post that the soldiers used a loudspeaker to demand the flag be taken down, disrupting Wednesday’s religious celebration. One soldier then removed the flag, angering residents and eventually triggering the clash. A total of 19 civilians were injured, while Abzalul Riza, a resident of Dayah Gampong Baro village, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Nurzahri. Read more at:
https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2026/11/06/govt-promises-full-investigation-into-aceh-shooting?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=home_latest
