“I am quite amazed, and surprised that various types of infrastructure have been constructed here (in Aceh). This shows that Aceh continues to inspire other provinces,” he said in an event held to mark the 17th anniversary of the Aceh tsunami, here, on Sunday.
Muzani assessed that since the beginning of Indonesia's independence, Aceh has been giving Indonesia precious lessons with the various events, conflicts, and disasters that the people have gone through.
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The catastrophe that rattled the province in 2004 was the Boxing Day tsunami that took the lives of more than 200 thousand Aceh residents.
The MPR deputy speaker said that at the time of the disaster, it felt like the future of Aceh was dark as children lost their parents, and parents lost their children, while houses, schools, and markets were destroyed. Aceh, however, could rise again.
“The people of Aceh have the ability to stand strong for the future. That is what they have been proving up until now, 17 years after (the tsunami). Aceh always inspire and strengthen our beloved country,” he remarked.
He assessed that the Acehnese people get power from the knowledge taught by the ulama. The strength of that faith has also made the residents accept the tsunami as a disaster while also keep moving towards a better future.
“The lesson from all of this is that Aceh has become a safe and united province; no more conflicts, no more problems. Aceh's residents have faced a wide range of difficulties, and finally, Aceh has become the province that is quite developed like now," he remarked.
To this end, he expressed hope that people in Aceh and all provinces across Indonesia would keep moving forward and stay united.
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Translator: Khalis Surry, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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