Prabowo's Aid Rejection Risks Unraveling Aceh's Hard-Won Peace

A slow government response to a devastating flood in Indonesia's Aceh province, compounded by President Prabowo's rejection of international aid, is stoking dangerous levels of local anger. According to James P. Bean, a senior advisor with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, this approach threatens to undo the very peace that foreign assistance helped build after the catastrophic 2004 tsunami.

A Tale of Two Disasters

Residents in districts like Pidie Jaya are digging through mud with little help, and frustration is mounting. The central government's response is seen as painfully slow, a situation exacerbated by Prabowo's nationalist stance against foreign aid. This stands in stark contrast to the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, when a massive, internationally-backed relief effort not only rebuilt the province but also paved the way for political reconciliation.

Nationalism Over Needs? Prabowo's Gamble

Bean, whose organization specializes in mediation, argues that Prabowo administration is ignoring this crucial lesson. "Jakarta's missing disaster response is reigniting old grievances in Aceh," he says in a Nikkei Asia, commentary. By prioritizing a self-reliance narrative over immediate humanitarian needs, the government risks being seen not as strong, but as neglectful. This perception could easily be exploited by dormant separatist elements, turning a natural disaster into a man-made political crisis.