ON Wednesday, March 15, 2006 the town of Banda Aceh was bedecked with new flags decorating almost all parts of the town. Just like during a political party campaign, the flag bears the symbol of a yellow star on a red background and a black line alongside with the wording PRA, the Aceh Peoples Party.

The small-sized banners are put up on the fences of the Banda Aceh bridge, at the junctions and around parts of downtown. Other supporting posters ar