Aceh

The Islamic Republic of Aceh (Acehnese: Eseulaman Republik Acèh) is an island nation in South-East Asia occupying all of Sumatra, with its capital being Banda Acèh. It used to have a bridge connecting it to Java, but it was destroyed during the Sumatran War of 2067. Thus, the country has no land-borders at all.

Aceh was founded in 2033 during the earlier stages of WWIII. When China and its allies in South-East Asia decided to invade Indonesia, Malaysia followed suit, claiming a large part of Borneo as well as the Riau Archipelago and a small part of Java. Malaysia, working in tandem with Iran, Pakistan and the Arab League, supported the Free Aceh Movement to gain an ally close by. The separatist movement declared the independence of the Islamic Republic of Aceh in what was the Indonesia province of Aceh and, together with Malaysia, proceeded to invade and occupy large parts of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Riau Islands, while aided but not allied with China and its allies. The Acehnese troops were sent to be trained in Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Somaliland over the course of the war and became a potent fighting force in the region. They survived the Shift of Focus in the later stages of the war when the Arab League and allies turned on the Chinese-led Global Union of Proletarian states and also survived the subsequent invasion of Sumatra by Indonesia, Australian, New Zealand, Papuan, Fijian, French and American troops. While the region of Aceh was reconquered by Indonesia, the FAM switched to guerrilla warfare and continued to cause trouble throughout Indonesia and Australia, eventually forcing the southern allies to recognize the independence of Aceh in the Treaty of Chittagong in 2046. The treaty and consequential cessation of hostilities between Aceh and Indonesia contributed to the Allies’ campaign in China, since Indonesian and Australia supply lines were no longer threatened by attacks by the FAM and sympathetic Islamist terror networks in the region. Between 2046 and 2062, Aceh was limited to the former Indonesia province of Aceh. However, when the Indonesian War of Dissolution began in 2061, Aceh swiftly moved to occupy all of Sumatra and the Riau Islands, which were awarded to Aceh in the Treaty of Singapore in 2067, which made the dissolution of the Republic of Indonesia final (with the Republic of Java being its successor state).

Aceh is a theocratic society, the power being shared between the military, the clergy and the Islamic Revolutionary Party of Aceh. The freedoms of press and organization are inexistent, while freedom of speech exists in practicality, though is subject to occasional infringements by the military, all being part of a power play between the three authorities of the country. Freedom of religion is allowed, though non-Muslims are forced to pay a special tax to the government or be forced to leave the country. The country has a low HMI grade and only a handful of like-minded Islamic countries maintain relations with it (Gaza, Oman and Waziristan being its closest friends), with Oman practically being the only country’s only source of foreign products. It has a large agricultural sector and its industrial sector is growing, with move people moving into urban centres every year. Poverty is kept down through an extensive social security system and Aceh is agriculturally self-sufficient. While Aceh’s currency is virtually worthless outside the country, its relative isolation has led it to develop a bubble economy, poverty being very low compared to the world’s other remaining Third World countries.

Society is highly religious and conservative, with visits to the mosque being mandatory on Fridays and religious education included in the national curriculum on all levels. Aceh remains, together with Oman, Gaza, Waziristan and Afghanistan, one of the few theocracies left in the world.