BIREUEN, ACEH – Arizal Mahdi, Chairman of Relawan Peduli Rakyat Lintas Batas (RPR-LB), has expressed profound concern following a shooting incident in Pulo Keunari Village, Tiro District, Pidie Regency, on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. According to preliminary reports, one resident lost their life and several others sustained injuries.
Arizal extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and expressed his hope that those injured would receive immediate and appropriate medical attention.
He stressed that the incident must be taken seriously by all concerned, particularly given Aceh’s long history of conflict, which has left deep wounds and caused immeasurable suffering among its people.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the person who lost their life in this tragic incident. We do not want to see such events repeated in Aceh. Our people have endured far too much suffering as a result of conflict. We must not allow the peace we have worked so hard to achieve to be undermined by violence that claims human lives,” Arizal said.
He urged security personnel to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue and a measured approach when addressing disputes or tensions within communities. He emphasised that communication, sound judgement and self-control must take precedence over any action that could put civilian lives at risk.
“The responsibility of security personnel is to maintain public order and protect the people. The people are not the enemy. Every situation must be handled wisely, proportionately and in accordance with the law. Any use of firearms must comply strictly with applicable regulations, with the protection of civilian lives treated as an absolute priority,” he said.
Calls for a Thorough and Transparent Investigation
Arizal called on the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the shooting in Pulo Keunari Village.
He stressed that the public has the right to know the full circumstances of the incident, including the sequence of events, the factors that led to it and the accountability of any individuals found to have breached the law.
“There must be no concealment of the facts. This incident must be investigated objectively, on the basis of credible evidence. If any violation of the law is established, everyone responsible must be held accountable through the proper legal process. No one should be above the law,” he emphasised.
He also appealed to the public to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid spreading information that has not been independently verified.
Aceh’s Peace Must Never Become a Distant Memory
Arizal further emphasised that safeguarding peace in Aceh is a collective responsibility. The Central Government, the Government of Aceh, security forces, community leaders, religious figures and all sections of society must work together to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
He said that the people of Aceh deserve to live in peace, earn their livelihoods, practise their faith and raise their children without fear.
“We must never allow the younger generation of Aceh to inherit the fear and suffering experienced by previous generations. They deserve a future built on peace, dignity and security. We all have a responsibility to protect the peace that was achieved through immense sacrifice,” he said.
Arizal also expressed his hope that the Central Government and the Government of Aceh would continue to maintain open channels of communication to address issues affecting the province, including the issue of the Aceh flag, through constructive dialogue and in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
Concluding his statement, Arizal reaffirmed that the welfare, rights and safety of the people must remain at the heart of every government policy and action.
“Ordinary people must never be made to suffer because of problems that could be resolved through communication and dialogue. Aceh has endured more than enough suffering. The priority now must be to preserve peace, uphold justice and ensure that every person can genuinely feel safe in their own homeland,” Arizal concluded.
Relawan Peduli Rakyat Lintas Batas (RPR-LB)
Humanity Beyond Borders.
