Aceh Local Governance Programme - ALGAP II

The European Commission is providing  € 27 million in support of the peace and reintegration process in Aceh. 

In September 2005, in response to a request from the Government of Indonesia, the European Commission provided immediate reintegration assistance to former combatants and amnestied political prisoners under the Rapid Reaction Mechanism (RRM).  The transitional assistance package comprised of transportation, cash assistance and free medical check-ups. 

In December 2005 the Commission approved a  € 15.85 million package known as the "Aceh Peace Process Support programme - APPS".  The APPS is supporting implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding in 4 key areas:

1. Support to the Local Elections (Aceh Pilkada): including support to update voter?s lists, training of poll workers and local election commissions personnel, voter education and information campaigns, the establishment of a Media Centre and quick counts.
2. Support for reform of Polda (Police): including support for the establishment of community policing, training with emphasis on respect for human rights and rehabilitation/reconstruction of police infrastructure.
3. Support for the Justice sector: including support for the modernization of the civil district court system in particular with regard to human rights, and training of prosecutors, provincial and district judges and court administrative staff.
4. Support to the Local Governance: including support for the socialization of the new law on the Governing of Aceh (LoGA), technical assistance for the implementation of the LoGA and in relation to core governance competences. 

The integrated design of the APPS programme is based on the understanding that long-term stability in Aceh will depend on a number of interrelated aspects, namely:

• The Helsinki MoU must be implemented in its entirety and as close as possible to the relevant dates and timeline contained in it. This is essential in order to guarantee the credibility of the peace process;
• Immediate and tangible "peace dividends" must be delivered to the Acehnese people;
• Better public services and reliable institutions which are more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizens are required in order to sustain a long-term prosperous and peaceful future for Aceh;

Furthermore the Commission has provided reintegration support in 2006/2007 through its Aid to Uprooted People programme with projects aimed at: a) delivering quick-impact "peace-dividends" to 230 villages receiving ex-combatants and amnestied prisoners; b) supporting the Aceh Reintegration Agency (BRA) effectively deliver the reintegration benefits foreseen under the MoU.

BOX:  EC support to Aceh Peace Process