Following the Dutch transfer of sovereignty to Indonesia in August 1949 , many Acehnese became dissatisfied with the policies of the Javanese-dominated central government in Jakarta and began agitating for autonomy . Grievances included Aceh 's incorporation into the predominantly Christian Batak province of North Sumatra , its poor financial and political rewards within the unitary Indonesian Republic and the failure to implement sharia law . In 1953 , these factors led to a short-lived rebellion by the Darul Islam movement under Daud Bereueh which was suppressed by the Indonesian armed forces though resistance continued inland until 1959 when the rebels succeeded in negotiating an autonomous status for Aceh . Despite this , many Acehnese and other Sumatrans resented key government and military positions being dominated by Javanese . The resulting rebellion led by Free Aceh Movement raged in the province until a peace treaty was signed between the Acehnese movement and Indonesian government following the Great Aceh tsunami
Great Aceh tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Aceh War