Understanding Aceh Referendum Discourse in the Context of Asymmetric Decentralisation

Abstract

As a result of recent political dynamic, particularly after the world most complicated simultaneous national elections, Aceh referendum discourse has been reechoed by Acehnese local elite. This issue has become an interesting phenomenon to be investigated. As a result of MOU Helsinki Peace Agreement in 2005, Aceh has been granted as a special region by the central government by way of an asymmetric decentralisation scheme to run its government. Is it true that the local Acehnese really want the referendum? Or is it just a political discourse enacted by the local elites for their own political interests? This paper examines how ideology operates through discourse. It uses Van Dijk ideological discourse analysis. This paper argues that referendum issue reenacted is not just an ordinary elite’ speech. It strongly entails political ideology of certain group. For ideology to operate in discourse, local elites have strategically manipulated context, event, knowledge and their group belief both to attract public attention and to strengthen their political bargaining position with the national elites. Keywords— Referendum, Asymmetric Decentralisation,