Thousands descend on Banda Aceh to greet Hasan Tiro

Hotli Simanjuntak and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta
"Wellcome to Acheh Veranda, Prof.DR.Muhammad Hasan Di Tiro. Kuta raja. From KPA/Masses of Pase."
This was the greeting in broken English splashed across banners attached to two large trucks on Friday, a day before the most senior leader of Aceh's former resistance leader was expected in the provincial capital.
Hasan Tiro, 83, a Swedish citizen, is expected to arrive on a chartered flight from Kuala Lumpur at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, on what he has called a long-delayed visit to his homeland. He will be accompanied by an entourage including more than 100 former combatants of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
On the trucks, some 60 members of a traditional rapaii percussion group were practicing to greet the man one well-wisher described as "the real Wali of Aceh", the grandson of resistance fighter Teungku Cik di Tiro historically entrusted by the ulema to lead Aceh.
"We can't wait to meet him," said a leader of the percussion group, Ibrahim M. Jali of Matang Kuli in North Aceh.
By late Friday afternoon, thousands more vehicles had streamed into the capital, having clogged the road all the way from North Aceh since morning.
Many honking vehicles carrying waving passengers on top were adorned or painted with the red-and-black flag of the Aceh Party (Partai Aceh), based on the colors of the GAM, the republic's former enemy.
"A soldier tossed a bottle of water at us on the way," one man said. "So what? Our party flag is legal, so if they don't like it that means they don't respect their own government."
Many also brought tents and stoves, and enjoyed simple hot meals of rice, noodles and a few meatballs each.
The well-wishers are currently concentrated in two other locations -- another park and the Unsyiah campus -- as well as in Ratu Safiatudin, which is nearest to the governor's office.
"It's easier to monitor them in these three areas," said Aceh Party spokesman Adnan Beuransyah.
"The 'Wali' will make a brief speech at the mosque, but this is still tentative," he added.
The supporters were all prepared to spend a night or two in the capital's parks, which have a number of buildings such as replicas of traditional structures, although sanitation facilities are limited.
Aceh Vice Governor M. Nazar said of the complaints that "party accessories are unnecessary. Hasan Tiro did not return for Partai Aceh but for peace and because he misses his homeland."
Governor Irwandi Yusuf, who has been receiving medical treatment in Singapore, is now well and will join Tiro from Kuala Lumpur, Nazar said.
On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said his office had granted Hasan Tiro a social visit visa valid for 60 days and had worked with related ministries to facilitate his arrival in a chartered plane.
"(Former GAM leader) Malik Mahmud sent us a letter for help to facilitate the visit. Now all documents have been cleared, so there's no problem regarding his arrival," he said.
"However, we have to remind the agents managing the visit to make sure that everyone in the entourage is well-documented, including the foreigners."
Theo Sambuaga, chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I on international and defense affairs, said Friday he hoped Hasan's visit would send a strong message to the Aceh people to help sustain peace there.
"I urge him to emphasize three things while he's in Aceh," he said.
"He needs to urge the Aceh people to maintain reconciliation, to pursue development and to emphasize that Aceh is an integral part of Indonesia."