Abstract
The long-lasting conflict in the Acehnese context between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement ended in 2004, marked with a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties. Yet, while the fighting came to an end, remnants of the conflict persisted through trauma and attempts to reconcile with that trauma. These attempts are best expressed through the writings of contemporary Acehnese writers, who wrote poetry, short novels, and books, among other works of fiction, that sought to capture what the conflict meant for their compatriots.To this end, the current study is aimed at exploring Acehnese representations of three main issues: conflict, resistance, and gender representation in fiction. Using qualitative content analysis, this thesis seeks to demonstrate 1) how Acehnese writers represented armed conflict through depictions of its nature, the violence, and the traumatic experience of being ‘Othered’; 2) the duality of both overt and hidden resistance against the powerful Indonesian state, such as through the act of cultural preservation; and 3) the gendered lens through which the conflict is still understood through the portrayal of Acehnese women. These often problematic representations portray the complex and multi-layered experiences of women during the insurgency, spanning themes of discrimination and domination by men over women, the domesticity and weakness of women.
The contemporary Acehnese fiction has shown the dangers of ethnonationalism by illustrating and juxtaposing the violence and oppression of Javanese colonial rule and the destructive nature of Acehnese ethnonationalism through representations of the treatment of Javanese transmigrants by the armed movement. The contemporary Acehnese writers seek a conciliatory approach to post-conflict Aceh and push for a gentler, more inclusive form of Acehnese nationalism to allow for the healing of old wounds to occur. They differ on the necessity of armed struggle in contesting Indonesian power. They also highlight the futility of such a confrontation since such a contest only brings more victims and ruin to all.
In showing resistance against oppression during the conflict, the Acehnese authors highlight how resistance is often linked to injustice. The novels showcase both overt and covert forms of resistance, such as camouflage (as opposed to Bhabha’s mimicry), dance, and silence as a means to highlight historical and to invite readers to recognise the degree to which participation in the conflict envelopes all aspects of everyday life. They also demonstrate that domination or inequality in the relationship between the colonised and the coloniser can also be seen in the relationship between man and woman in Acehnese society. They seek to represent women in generally progressive ways to articulate the ideal place of women in Acehnese society and celebrate their triumphs over tribulations as well as their capacity for agency and action through the portrayal of strong women characters. Their characterisations suffered from serious limitations when read through a post-colonial or feminist lens.
Date of Award | 2024 |
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Original language | English |
Supervisor | Ernest KOH (Supervisor) & Bethaney TURNER (Supervisor) |