LBH Banda Aceh Accuses TNI of Raids Ahead of Aceh Peace Day
The LBH (Legal Aid Institute) of Banda Aceh revealed that there has been a deployment of Indonesian National Army (TNI) soldiers one day before the 21st commemoration of Aceh Peace Day, conducting raids and inspections on residents.
Indonesia's Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Banda Aceh accused the Indonesian National Army (TNI) of conducting raids and inspections on residents in several regencies leading up to the 21st commemoration of Aceh Peace Day on August 15, 2026. The actions hindered residents from gathering to commemorate the 21 years of peace in Aceh, said Aulianda Wafisa, Director of LBH Banda Aceh.
The peace day is significant for Acehnese people to celebrate their journey to peace since the signing of the Helsinki Memorandum on August 15, 2005. However, the government's actions seem to obstruct the rights of Acehnese people to gather and express their opinions. LBH Banda Aceh called upon the government to stop obstructing the rights of people to gather and express opinions, withdraw the use of armed forces, open a meaningful dialogue, and guarantee freedom of expression, assembly, and the right to express opinions as part of Indonesian democracy.
At the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, clashes erupted when a resident took down the Indonesian flag and replaced it with the crescent and star flag, causing tension and escalating into violence. The clashes began with gunshots, prompting police to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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