Verandah of Violence: The Background to the Aceh Problem - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9971693313 ISBN 13: 9789971693312

Publisher: NUS Press, 2006

Synopsis

Separatist feeling in Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost province, has deep historical roots but it is often dismissed as a reaction to a heavy-handed military presence in the area since 1989. With Indonesia's 1998 democratisation, expressions of regional feelings and resentment of the military increased throughout the country, and Aceh became the next potential candidate to break away from the Indonesia Republic after East Timor. While Indonesia's claims on Aceh seem securely based in the common struggle for independence from the Dutch, Aceh entered the then newly-independent country of Indonesia after 1945 with an unparalleled history of determination to resist outside domination. This determination was directed against the Dutch in the period 1873-1950, but then turned quickly against the new holders of power in Jakarta. Aceh was largely absent from world headlines until the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. As images of the suffering of the Acehnese people beamed across the world, the need for well-informed international aid for its reconstruction became evident. This timely book on the history of Aceh and the Aceh problem contains a balanced coverage from leading authorities in history, political science and journalism. It is the best introduction to Aceh available in English.

About this title

Review

There is hardly a better way to respect the memory of those tens of thousands of Acehnese who lost their lives in the tsunami, and in the preceding conflict, than to open their history to the outside world. One wishes to see that this book will be followed by a range of Aceh studies that will also look beyond the conflict and violence and see Acehnese people and their everyday lives.

(Journal of Contemporary Asia)

This collection raises important questions of broad interest to policy makers and students of conflict resolution in divided states, as well as specialists in Southeast Asian history and culture.

(Journal of Asian Studies)

Balanced, well-researched studies of the Aceh conflict are hard to find. This is one of the many reasons why Verandah of Violence: The Background to the Aceh Problem is sorely needed. Its core strength is the diversity of its 14 authors in terms of their backgrounds, explanations, and even sympathies. . . . [this] is the definitive collection on the Aceh conflict, offering unrivalled depth and breadth.

(Pacific Affairs)

This volume is testimony to the intractability of conflicts of this kind throughout the world. Recommended.

(Choice)

Review

This volume is testimony to the intractability of conflicts of this kind throughout the world. Recommended. * Choice * Balanced, well-researched studies of the Aceh conflict are hard to find. This is one of the many reasons why Verandah of Violence: The Background to the Aceh Problem is sorely needed. Its core strength is the diversity of its 14 authors in terms of their backgrounds, explanations, and even sympathies. . . . [this] is the definitive collection on the Aceh conflict, offering unrivalled depth and breadth. * Pacific Affairs * This collection raises important questions of broad interest to policy makers and students of conflict resolution in divided states, as well as specialists in Southeast Asian history and culture. * Journal of Asian Studies * There is hardly a better way to respect the memory of those tens of thousands of Acehnese who lost their lives in the tsunami, and in the preceding conflict, than to open their history to the outside world. One wishes to see that this book will be followed by a range of Aceh studies that will also look beyond the conflict and violence and see Acehnese people and their everyday lives. * Journal of Contemporary Asia *

Edition details

• Publisher: NUS Press
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9971693313
• ISBN 13: 9789971693312
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 456
• Editor: Reid Anthony