Social Movement in Advocating Transitional Justice Agenda in Aceh, Indonesia: Political Opportunities and Challenges
Abstract
Aceh has a long history of conflict, most notably the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) insurgency from 1976 to 2005. This period marked by three peace agreements, culminating in the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Helsinki 2005, which incorporated transitional justice mechanisms to address human rights violations and ensure justice for victims. However, implementing these mechanisms in post-conflict settings is fraught with challenges due to political instability and competing interests. This study investigates the political opportunities and challenges that shape social movements advocating for transitional justice in Aceh's fragile post-conflict environment. Using the political
opportunities framework of social movements, the study examines the openness of political systems, elite interactions, the facilitation or repression by powerholders, and the presence of allies or opposition. This framework helps to
understand how social movements navigate political landscapes to promote transitional justice. A case study approach was employed, involving in-depth interviews with human rights activists, government representatives, and
former commissioners of Aceh's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Aceh’ TRC). The study also utilized secondary data from academic articles and studies, with thematic analysis applied to interpret the data. The findings highlight four key points: the political system's openness facilitated by two critical moments marked by the fall of Soeharto in 1998 and the 2005 MoU Helsinki, dynamic relationships between new elites, low-facilitation yet a very small act of repression by powerholders, and the presence of trusted allies and a very small opposition party against the movement. The study underscores the importance of understanding political dynamics to effectively promote justice and peace, providing insights and valuable lessons for similar contexts globally. It emphasizes the need for tailored strategies in politically unstable and vulnerable post-conflict environments, contributing to the broader literature on social movements and transitional justice.
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