August 15, 2026 | 10:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A riot erupted during the commemoration of the 21st Aceh Peace Day at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque (MRB) in Banda Aceh City on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at around 11:00 a.m. Jakarta time.
The clash between police and residents began when an individual climbed a flagpole in the courtyard of the mosque and lowered Indonesia's red-and-white flag with a crescent-star flag. This was greeted by chants from the crowd, escalating the situation.
One of the attendees, M. Jamil, said the event was an invitation to pray and recite the zikir for peace and a more just and prosperous Acehnese society. "Raising the crescent-star flag is a form of our gratitude," Jamil said, as reported by Antara on Saturday.
Moments after someone climbed the flagpole, gunfire began to be heard, provoking a crowd reaction. The crowd immediately moved toward the sound and threw stones at several police officers on guard. Several cars parked around the mosque were also damaged.
Police officers urged the crowd to stop throwing objects and disperse—but were ignored. Police eventually fired water cannons and tear gas to force the crowd to disperse.
The day before, dozens of people from a civil society coalition concerned about disasters also held a symbolic demonstration, carrying white flags. The protesters urged the central government to immediately declare the ecological disaster in Aceh and Sumatra a national disaster.
Rahmad Maulidin, the protest coordinator, believed that the failure to declare a national disaster status has resulted in unclear rehabilitation and reconstruction policies. "It remains relevant, because post-disaster management in the affected areas has not been optimal," Rahmad said on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Tempo attempted to confirm the riot with the Head of Public Relations for the Aceh Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Joko Krisdiyanto. However, no responses had been given as of the time of writing.
Read: 'Everything Is Ok': Palace Urges Calm over August Unrest Scare
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