Indonesia's War over Aceh: Last Stand on Mecca's Porch

From 2001, Indonesia's military commitment to the province of Aceh has resulted in the largest East Asian regional war since the 1975 East Timor invasion. Indonesia's War over Aceh presents the background and history of this war, investigating the domestic and regional implications of the conflict, at a time when the recent tsunami devastation has brought Aceh to the international forefront. From monitoring and coercing Aceh's civilians to manipulating international perceptions, Indonesia's military-dominated state combined its fighting forces with politically repressive campaigns to destabilize and eliminate Acehnese resistance. The problems presented by rebellious Aceh expose many of the fundamental vulnerabilities of the Indonesian state itself, where possible secession has provoked quite extreme and often uncompromising reactions from Jakarta's ruling elites. So severe are the challenges posed by Acehnese separatism that Indonesia's post-New Order government has embraced a new era of censorship,disinformation and frenzied lobbying, all of which have distorted many important facts about the War and its causes. Using military and intelligence doctrinal references, and extensive, original research, Davies reconstructs reported events, combatant forces, terminology and statistical data to expose many of the war's sensitive issues. It challenges others' preceding research by detailing the Indonesian military's mission, combat strains, and activity within political, operational and paramilitary realms. Drawing on Indonesian-Malay sources normally unseen by the English-speaking world, Indonesia's War over Aceh will be essential reading for regional specialists and those with an interest in third world conflict.

Matthew N. Davies is a member of the Australian Institute of Professional lntelligence Officers (AIPIO), Indonesian linguist, and former Australian Department of Defence intelligence analyst