Aceh is one of the Province in Indonesia which will hold the Regional Election in 2017 based on Law No 11 of 2006 ( Special Law on the Regional Election of Aceh) and then Qanun No 5 of 2012. Law No 11 of 2006 is not much different to the Law No 8 of 2015 on Regional Election which apply in all the Provinces of Indonesia. The special condition of Law No 11 of 2006 and Qanun No 5 on 2012 is the stipulation of the existence of the local Political Party namely the Aceh Political Party established by the former members of GAM. The Aceh Political Party is led by the former Armed Commander of GAM, Muzakir Manaf.
Peaceful situation has been established in Aceh and the people wishes seriously the development of the life of the people of Aceh to be reached significantly. Until recently the people of Aceh likely feel that the development of their life has not been achieved eminently. Accordingly the people of Aceh believe the Province of Aceh needs seriously a competent Governor to lead Aceh toward a real development of the life of the people of Aceh.
Because of this political demand of the people of Aceh the political figure of the Governor Candidate of Aceh in facing the Regional Election of 2017 is becoming the spectacular political issue in the Province of Aceh today. This phrases is intended to describe the situation of the Province of Aceh especially on the appearance of names described as the possible Candidates of the Governors in the Regional election of 2017.
The Assessment
At present the Province of Aceh included the District of North Aceh are preparing to join the Regional Election to elect their new Chief and Vice Chief of their local leader of 2017-2022. As the democratic process, namely the voting of the citizens of the Province of Aceh and the District of North Aceh likely will be conducted in February of 2017, less than one year from now.
According to this process, the Independent Committee for the Election of Aceh has started to work to prepare the implementation of the Regional Election since April 2016.
The Independent Committee for the Regional Election of Aceh has completely consolidated its Organization such as the establishment the Ad hoc Committee which will implement the election, it has been going to work since April 2016 until the next promulgation of their new regional leaders.
The further agenda of the Independent Committee will be the registration of the Candidates of the Governor and the Candidate of the Vice Chief of Governor, the Candidate of Chief and the Vice Chief of Districts, also the Candidate of the Mayors and its Deputy followed with the operational steps of the Election such as the campaigning agenda, and the Voting as the main Agenda of the Election.
It is now the political temperature in the Province of Aceh has indicated to start becoming warmer. A number of regional figures appeared declaring their intention to become the Candidates of the Governor in the coming Regional Election. The names of the regional figures intending to be the Candidates of the Governors are now becoming the topic of discussion among the society of Aceh.
The first name arose was Irwandi Yusuf the former Governor of Aceh in 2007-2012 as the independent candidate, the next was Muzakir Manaf the present Vice Governor of Aceh as the candidate of the Governor of Aceh supported by the Aceh Political Party. Muzakir Manaf is the Chairman of the Aceh Political Party. The Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS) is reported to declare to support Muzakir Manaf as the Candidate of the Governor of Aceh.
Further It was said that Zakaria Saman the former Minister of Defense of GAM was also indicating his intention to join the Regional Election as the Candidate of the Governor as the independent Candidate.
Surprisingly Zaini Abdullah, the present Governor of Aceh (2012-2017) will also join as the Candidate of the Governor as the Independent Candidate.
Muzakir Manaf, Zakaria Saman, Zaini Abdullah as the former leaders of GAM they are also the leaders of the Aceh Political Party. Muzakir Manaf is the Chairman of Aceh Political Party, while Zakaria Saman and Zaini Abdullah are the member of the Advisory Council of the Aceh Political Party.
Irwandi Yusuf was also the political activist supporting GAM, but he was not active in the organization of GAM. He was active to support GAM in the society during the period of the military conflict.
Beside those former leaders of GAM and Irwandi Yusuf, one government official, namely A Karim, now he is the Inspector General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and before he was the Acting Governor of Aceh and once he was also the Chief of District of the Northern Aceh has also the intention to nominate himself as the Candidate of the Governor in the coming Regional Election. Of the National Political Party, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN), Ahmad Farhan Hamid, the former Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly is also said that he will be appointed as the Candidate of the Governor as the representative of PAN.
Those names who are said to be the Candidate of the Governor in the Regional Election of 2017 have become the topic of discussion now among the societies in various meetings and gatherings. So far not any conclusion could be made who will be the possible winner of the Regional Election because there are a number of uncertain factors will committing to the vote.
Clearly the appearance of the names of the Candidates of the Governors are considered politically important because the Province of Aceh really needs a qualified leader to lead the Province. Until recently the Independent Committee for the General Election has not yet opened the registration of the names of the Candidate of Governors, Vice Governors, Chief of District and Vice Chief of District, Mayors and the Deputy of Mayors covering one Province and 19 Districts and Cities in all over The Province of Aceh.
The Independent Committee for the Election of the Province of Aceh said the registration for the Candidate of Governors and their Vice Governors, the Candidate of the Chief of District and their Vice Chief s and the Candidate of the Mayors and the Deputy Mayor will be done in August 2016.
The number of the citizens of the Province of Aceh are 5.101.673 so one Independent Candidate of the Governor has to be supported by at least 3 % of the population or 153.045 citizens. The number of the members of the House of Representative are 81 seats One Candidate of Governor as the independent candidate has to be supported by one Political Party or Coalition Party with at least 13 seats in the House of The Representative.
However a number of the Political Parties un-officially have leaked the names of their candidates for the Regional Election to the media. Totally there have been eight names for the Candidates of the Governors un-officially leaked to the public. Those eight names are Zaini Abdulah the present Governor as independent Candidate, Muzakir Manaf the present Vice Governor supported by Political Party of Aceh, The Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS) has also officially supported Muzakir Manaf as the Candidate of the Governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf the former Governor of Aceh of 2007-2017 as independent Candidate, Zakaria Saman the former Defense Minister of GAM as the independent Candidate, Tarmizi A Karim Director General on The Village Administation of the Home Affairs Ministry as independent candidate, Ahmad Farhan Hamid former Vice Chairman of the Peoples Consultative Assembly as independent Candidate, TM Nurlif former members of the House of Representative as the Candidate of the Golkar Party and Abdulah Puteh the former Governorof Aceh of 2002-2007 as independent candidate.
Some observers analyzed that in the Regional Election of 2017 of Aceh the Candidates of the Governors who were the former members of GAM are still likely considered as popular political figures within the society. GAM is generally considered as strong and firm organization and the leaders of GAM are considered as potential leader to lead Aceh democratically.
*) Herdiansyah Rahman is a Political and security Observer. Residing in Jakarta.
