Demonstration Demanding the Declaration of Flooding as a National Disaster Ends in Chaos

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The incident of the removal of the Crescent Star flag, accompanied by violence against civilians in several areas in Aceh on Thursday, December 25, 2025, diverted the attention of the public and the mass media. The case became a topic of national media coverage and a topic of discussion among the public, shifting the focus to the problematic handling of flood victims, which has not been optimally addressed.

Various parties have issued calming appeals regarding the incident. We regret the violence against civilians, which even resulted in some being injured on the head and a teenager being knocked unconscious.

The repressive actions of the authorities should have been unnecessary when observing residents in a non-threatening location, even though police claimed some were carrying pistols and sharp weapons. However, in other incidents, groups of officers wearing TNI uniforms have attacked one or two residents who could have been repelled. This contrasts sharply with the recent incident in Sulawesi, where foreign workers from China chased TNI soldiers who fled after being attacked.

Trained security forces should have been able to immediately assess the situation of unrest in several areas. Repressive measures such as beatings, whether with bare hands or especially with the butts of long-barreled weapons, can be considered as necessary. When protesters are already being pushed back, a common occurrence in any demonstration, there should be no need to resort to beatings.

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Regarding the discovery of pistols and other sharp weapons, leave it to the police. The public, the press, and all parties can monitor this case to prevent it from being distorted and detrimental to Aceh as a whole.

Don't forget, the people of Aceh are currently focused on addressing the flood victims and all their attendant problems. Tens of thousands of residents still live in refugee camps, with poor sanitation, deteriorating health, unfinished infrastructure, and life not yet back to normal. It's no wonder that Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf decided to extend the emergency response period until January 8, 2026.

The public must be careful in responding to this issue, lest the agenda of conveying aspirations be exploited by various interests that actually harm Aceh itself. For those with a clear memory, contemporary conflicts, with several unresolved humanitarian tragedies, such as the shooting at Simpang Kertas Kraft Aceh, began with patterns like this.

Amidst recovery and rehabilitation efforts that are not yet optimal, this incident must not distort donors' perspectives on Aceh. Diverting the focus from humanitarian issues to armed political tensions is a disservice to Aceh.

In 2004, the tsunami brought peace to Aceh, and humanitarian aid poured in from around the world. Now, all forces in Aceh must work together peacefully to ensure that the Aceh floods become a national disaster.[]

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Photos of the chaos at Simpang Kandang, Lhokseumawe, during a demonstration demanding the declaration of the Sumatra floods as a national disaster, Thursday, December 25, 2025.

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