Banda Aceh, Aceh.  Aceh Governor Muzakir "Mualem" Manaf has urged residents to refrain from hoisting the province’s crescent-and-star flag during this week’s commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Aceh peace agreement.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mualem said the flag --seen by many in Aceh as a symbol of peace-- would eventually be raised, but “not at this time.”

“We hope everyone can be patient for now, because one day the crescent-and-star flag will rise again,” said the former commander of the now-defunct separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

August 15 marks two decades since the signing of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding in Helsinki, Finland, which ended decades of armed conflict between GAM and the Indonesian government. The day has since been observed annually as Peace Day in the province.

Mualem stressed that all parties remain committed to preserving stability and fostering economic growth in the post-conflict region.

“We must remain committed to this peace, which is for all of us, for the Aceh we hope for: a better and more prosperous future,” he told state news agency Antara.

He expressed hope that the anniversary would serve as a catalyst for completing outstanding provisions of the Helsinki pact.

“We hope that the parts of the MoU that remain unfinished can be completed,” he said.

For now, Mualem urged residents to set aside calls to raise the crescent-and-star banner --once the emblem of GAM’s separatist struggle-- and focus on maintaining peace and order.

“So, for the time being, let us be patient and remain calm, hopefully that’s how it will be,” he said.

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