Memorial for Tsunami Victims Pays Tribute to Acehnese Culture

The Jakarta Globe, Nurdin Hasan, February 23, 2009 

A grand building shaped like a cruise ship stands proudly in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province. The tsunami museum cost the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency, or BRR, Rp 67 billion ($5.6 million) to build and is said to represent the strength of the Acehnese in surviving the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami. 

The 2,500-square-meter museum, which stands on a 10,000-square-meter plot north of Blang Padang field, was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday. 

Eddy Purwanto, operations deputy for BRR, said the concept for the tsunami museum was “Rumoh Aceh [traditional Aceh house] as Escape Hill.” A traditional Aceh house on stilts is a symbol of local wisdom, and has been incorporated into the museum’s design. When Aceh was struck by a tsunami, many houses on stilts were able to survive the raging water. 

“If you look at the walls of the museum, you will see thousands of people doing the s aman dance,” Eddy told the Jakarta Globe. “The philosophy behind it is that the Acehnese are a disciplined and orderly people. The saman dance is another symbol of the strength of the Acehnese.” 

In 2007, a nationwide design contest was held for architects and planning consultants. From the 125 submissions, the Acehnese jury chose a design by Ridwan Kamil, a professor of architecture from the Bandung Institute of Technology, or ITB, in Bandung, West Java Province, for its portrayal of Acehnese characteristics. 

The contours of the building, according to the jury, show the designer’s efforts to delve into the Acehnese culture and psyche. A chamber in the museum is shaped like a tapering chimney with the Arabic inscription for God written on its top. This reflects the religious nature of Aceh’s people, who believe that God holds supreme might and power over all things. 

The museum’s first floor is an open space, as is traditional in an Acehnese house. In addition to its use as a public space, the space allows floodwater and tidal waves to run unencumbered. 

The building’s exterior expresses the cultural diversity of Aceh through its use of transparent, decorative ornaments. The interior takes the visitors through a “tunnel of sorrow” that invites contemplation of the disaster. 

The museum also has an escape hill, a park on a knoll that people can run to in the event of a flood or tsunami. It also features a hill of light, in addition to a garden with space where people can lay flowers. Another memorial room is located underground, complete with an exhibition hall. 

The chimney wall will be inscribed with the names of tsunami victims. Eddy said the names had been listed by the Aceh government. “More than just a place to remember the martyrs who died in the tsunami, the museum will serve to educate people and can serve as a refuge in the event of another tsunami,” he said. 

The inner room features a two-meter-wide alley with waterfalls on both sides to simulate a tsunami. The museum also sets aside a room where visiting families can pray. A conference room has been made available for community meetings. 

The museum’s memorial hall is dimly lit in preparation for displays of electronic data. The building’s oval roof is covered with grass where visitors can sit and relax. 

To the south of the museum lies the graves of hundreds of Dutch soldiers, called Kerkhof or Peucut , who died in battles against Aceh’s armies. To the northeast lies Taman Sari, where residents often go for picnics. Some 150 meters away lies an urban forest park, Taman Putroe Pahang. In the 16th century the place used to be the bathing house of Puteri Pahang, an Aceh queen in the days of Sultan Iskandar Muda. 

Eddy said BRR had only been assigned to build the museum, at the request of the Acehnese and members of the House of Representatives in Jakarta. The contents of the museum will be supplied by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with Aceh’s government. 

“The initial idea [for the museum] came from looking at memorials in other countries,” he said. “There was no memorial for the many people who fell victim to the tsunami. Victims of the Kobe earthquake in Japan have their own memorial. Pearl Harbor has a museum. So we built a memorial for the tsunami victims in Aceh after we consulted with the public.” 

Eddy hopes an international trust fund will be established to ensure that the tsunami museum is properly maintained. 

Muhammad Nazar, Aceh’s deputy governor, welcomed the tsunami museum. “This is a masterpiece to be viewed not only by us, but by future generations as well. They will be grateful and proud of our generation, which has produced such a fine work for them to inherit.” 

Nazar said that in addition to becoming a historical icon with potential as a tourist destination, the museum would also serve as an educational facility that supported research and teaching about tsunamis. 

“Professional management is needed,” he said. “The Aceh government does not have the capacity to manage the museum because we are short-staffed.” 

He said that he hoped the management of the tsunami museum would involve the government of Aceh, the central government and Unesco, including a team of museum experts with international experience.  

Photo: Visitors exploring the completed Aceh tsunami museum in Banda Aceh during its inauguration on Monday. (Hotli Simanjuntak, EPA)

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