Aceh: A New Dawn

Message from the Director

00 Aceh Prelims 1/9/07, 3:42 PM 11 Message from the Director The study of Indonesia has remained one the most important focal points at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. In this context, the regional autonomy policies implemented in Indonesia since 2001 have generated a dynamism of their own, given that regions and districts now exercise a greater autonomy in the decision-making process.This has in turn initiated new approaches to studying the developments in Indonesia. Likewise at ISEAS our studies of Indonesia have taken a regional approach beginning with the Riau Archipelago and following up with Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, both within the island of Sumatra. This book is the first output of the study on Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, edited by Aris Ananta and Lee Poh Onn. All of the authors here are either research staff (Aris Ananta and Lee Poh Onn) or visiting research fellows (Michael Vatikiotis and Braema Mathiaparanam) at ISEAS, with the exception of Bapak Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Head of the BRR (Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency), who has graciously contributed the chapter on the role of the BRR in the recovery and reconstruction process in Aceh and Nias. This book examines Aceh from a new beginning, since the occurrence of the tsunami in December 2004. A new Aceh, with a new dawn to build lasting peaceful and prosperous development in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Finally, I commend the two editors and all the authors for their seriousness in understanding the importance of the current issues to Aceh. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Bapak Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who presented an ISEAS public lecture on “The Situation in Aceh and Nias: An Update” on 2 March 2006, and which has subsequently been revised and included as a chapter in this book. I also xi 00 Aceh Prelims 1/9/07, 3:42 PM 12 appreciate the hard work of Mrs Triena Unit for producing this attractive Ong and her staff in the Publications publication. K. Kesavapany Director Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Singapore xii ...