Peace Processes In Aceh and Sri Lanka

A Comparative Assessment

Bibliographic Data

ID20044786
AuthorsDamien Kingsbury (0000-0001-9987-4688, Deakin University, corresponding author)
Year2022
Pages107-122
Publication date2022-11-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueHow Wars End (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9781003317487-10
OpenAlexW375378915
ISBN9781003317487
LanguageEN
Citations received8

n\t\t\t\t\tThe 2004 tsunami provided a catalyst for peace talks over the separatist conflict in Aceh, Indonesia, leading to its eventual resolution in 2005. As Aceh was going to peaceful elections in 2006, Sri Lanka, which had also been affected by the tsunami, appeared to be returning to full-scale separatist war. This article assesses some of the underlying similarities and differences between the conflicts in Aceh and Sri Lanka. Within this, it will touch upon claims to self-determination, human rights and political participation, representation, transparency and accountability, more commonly referred to as 'democracy'. In particular, it will acknowledge these values as both challenges to the (restrictive) state, and the means of securing (nonrestrictive) state cohesion. Originating in the local and specific, these claims necessarily transcend the local and come to reflect elements of the normative global. In more concrete terms, the Aceh conflict was largely resolved by introducing greater local autonomy within a more democratic space. This paper similarly proposes that a resolution to the Sri Lanka conflict can only come about through the introduction of greater autonomy and democratic plurality. However, with conceptual and strategic hostility growing between Sri Lanka's conflicting parties, it appeared that such resolution was likely only after further protracted bloodshed. \n\t\t\t\t

Environmental planning · Geography · Sri lanka · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Peacebuilding and International Security

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access