Jakarta, 13 August 2025: ERIA, through the ERIA School of Government (SoG), convened a reflection forum to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Aceh Peace Agreement, which ended more than 3 decades of armed conflict in the province. The event, held from 13–15 August 2025 at ERIA Headquarters in Jakarta, brought together key figures directly involved in the historic peace process.

The opening day revisited the long and difficult path to the 15 August 2005 Helsinki Agreement. Negotiations had reached repeated deadlocks – particularly after the Tokyo meeting – until momentum was revived in Helsinki in the aftermath of the devastating Aceh tsunami. The tragedy became a turning point, compelling all parties to return to the table, resume dialogue, and commit to peace.

Dean of the ERIA School of Government, Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, described the Aceh peace process as one of the region’s most remarkable achievements. ‘Leaders and the people of Aceh transformed tragedy into a shared commitment. Two decades of sustained peace are the product of global cooperation and serve as a model for maintaining trust in the future,’ he said.

ERIA President, Tetsuya Watanabe, underscored Aceh’s global relevance as a case study in conflict resolution. ‘Aceh proves that peace is possible, even after years of violence and broken trust. It has endured because of daily efforts to build confidence through local institutions, inclusive politics, and active community engagement. Without peace, there is no development. Peace is the foundation of all progress,’ he stated.

H.E. Jusuf Kalla, then Vice President of Indonesia, recalled how the shared recognition of the people’s suffering drew all parties together. ‘We knew prolonged conflict would harm everyone. Negotiation was the only way forward. Helsinki was the turning point when we realised Aceh’s future could only be built on peace,’ he reflected.

Wali Nanggroe Aceh, Paduka Yang Mulia Tgk. Malik Mahmud Al Haythar, stressed the need to safeguard this legacy. ‘True peace is not born from victory or defeat, but from the courage to understand and respect one another. We have preserved it for 20 years; our task now is to ensure the next 20 are even more peaceful and prosperous. To the young generation, be guardians of peace, not heirs to wounds,’ he urged.

Through this forum, the ERIA School of Government aims to ensure that Aceh’s experience continues to inspire peaceful conflict resolution in Southeast Asia and beyond – underscoring that peace is not an end state, but an ongoing process that requires shared stewardship.