Two Indonesian Ministers To Visit Aceh

Banda Aceh, TAG – Two Indonesian ministers to visit Aceh to take part on the declaration of peace election in front of the Great Baiturrahman Mosque in the down town provincial capital Banda Aceh scheduled on Wednesday.

Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi to arrive on Tuesday or a day earlier of the event. He will observe peace local election posst at Lambaro area of Aceh Besar district and in the Banda Aceh’s Taman Sari Park, Usamah El Madny, Aceh provincial spokesman said.

The minister to hold a meeting with provincial officials along with districts and mayors in the Aceh and others figures to discuss about the preparation of the along-awaited Aceh local polls. 

Gamawan will also observe the Baiturrahman sub-district office to see process of electronic identification card or e KTP. After that, he'll visit Aceh Independent Commission Election (KIP) office and scheduled to hold a press conference later.

Meanwhile the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Joko Suyanto and some state government officials to visit Aceh on Wednesday to join the peace election’s declaration and hold the meeting with Aceh figures. Some national House Representatives expected to take part on the event.

On the declaration of peace polls, the five governor candidates expected to come. They are Ahmad Tajuddin, a local traditional of Islamic boarding school, former Governor Irwandi Yusuf, Darni M. Daud, rector of Syiah Kuala University, former vice governor Muhammad Nazar and Zaini Abdullah, the former GAM foreign minister in exile. Only Nazar and Zaini backed by political parties, with the three others running as independent candidates.

The upcoming local elections, which are slated for April 9 following a series of delays over political bickering, will see voters across the province turn out to pick a governor, four mayors and 13 district heads.

The along-awaited polls has been marred by a spate of unresolved shootings and fire-bombings that claimed nine civilians since last December. In the latest incident, Lhokseumawe City Council Speaker Saifuddin Yunus was shot and injured in an ambush at his house early on Thursday by two unknown gunmen.

While analysts and some Indonesian House Representatives have warned that the violence is aimed at disrupting the elections, some local authorities say the shootings are purely criminal in nature and motivation.[]