Ali Imran, Meulaboh – People in Meulaboh, West Aceh, are again starting to feel concerned after the appearance of a sticker which they are obliged to buy and display on their motorbikes. This has been felt especially by those who own motorbikes who are racing to get hold of the sticker to ensure they are safe from sweeps by local security forces.

Asnawi, a young man in Meulaboh, told Fpdra.org that the importance of the sticker has already outstripped a driver’s licence or motor vehicle registration because the sticker must be attacked to every single motorbike. If a motorbike does not have the sticker the rider can be detained by the police or TNI (armed forces) he explained.

When asked to describe the sticker, with a half-smile Asnawi answered that the contents are extremely provocative in the context of the peace agreement reached between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki. Asnawi then showed Fpdra.org an example of the sticker that he had already attached to his motorbike, which read “The GAM separatists are my enemy, Hasan Tiro1 is a traitor to my nation, NKRI2 is my country”.

Maita who is a teacher at a local primary school made similar comments. According to Maita, if a motorbike does not have the sticker security forces will detain you. When asked who made the sticker and how much it costs, neither Asnawi or Maita knew because both got their stickers either from neighbours or friends at their office.

Notes:

1. Hasan Tiro – Hasan Tiro founded the Free Aceh Movement in 1976 and has lived in Sweden since 1979.

2. NKRI – Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. A term which is often used in the context of nationalism and the desire to maintain the integrity of the Indonesian nation.

[Translated by James Balowski.]