Documentary film screening
The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse and Peace in Aceh
The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse and Peace in Aceh is a powerful documentary examining the decades-long conflict between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), culminating in the landmark 2005 Helsinki Peace Agreement. The film traces the roots of the separatist struggle, and the devastating human cost of nearly 30 years of war. A pivotal moment in this conflict came with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed over 150,000 people in Aceh. This tragedy reshaped perspectives, creating a unique opening for peace.
Through exclusive interviews with former combatants, government officials, international mediators, and civil society leaders, the film explores how an inclusive peace process replaced mistrust and violence with reconciliation and hope. Led by mediator Martti Ahtisaari, the Helsinki talks are portrayed not as triumphs of diplomacy alone, but as deeply human moments of negotiation and compromise.
The Last Accord stands as a rare and inspiring account of how dignity, dialogue, and disaster shaped one of Southeast Asia’s most enduring peace efforts—offering vital lessons for a conflict-ridden world.
This event is organised by the ANU Indonesia Institute in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.