Banda Aceh – Injustice is at the root of a separatist movement in Indonesia's Aceh, presidential hopeful Amien Rais said on Saturday during the first visit by a candidate to the troubled province.

In a dialogue with Muslim university students, Amien said the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) which has been fighting for independence since 1976 is rooted in economic, social and political injustice. "There was political tyranny felt by the Acehnese people.

So, according to me, the solution to the Aceh conflict is to bring economic, social and political justice to the Acehnese people so all of them can feel prosperity," Amien said.

An opinion survey released last week found Amien the second-most popular candidate ahead of the July 5 election.

Amien is a former leader of Indonesia's second-largest Muslim social organization, Muhammadiyah. He is the first of five presidential candidates to visit Aceh, one of the most devout Islamic regions of Indonesia.

He called for proper implementation of a "special autonomy" status which gives the province greater control over its affairs and natural resource revenue.

Many Acehnese have long complained that unemployment and poverty are widespread while local officials seem interested only in enriching themselves.

Police have questioned Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh as a witness in a case of alleged corruption involving the provincial administration.

An opinion survey released Thursday by Soegeng SarjadiSyndicated, a Jakarta-based research center, found that Rais had 19.70 percent support, in second place but far behind favorite Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a retired general preferred by 46.64 percent. President Megawati Soekarnoputri came third with 13.78 percent.