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Aceh's future governor plays down separatism jitters

Source
Jakarta Post - December 19, 2006

With two former members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) apparently set to claim victory in last week's landmark gubernatorial election in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, some parties have voiced concern over the future of the province. Gubernatorial candidate Irwandi Yusuf, who is leading comfortably in the vote count, spoke with The Jakarta Post's Ridwan Max Sijabat about these fears and what he hopes to accomplish once he is sworn in for the 2007-2012 term.

Question: Jakarta appears worried by your possible victory in the gubernatorial election. What is your comment?

Answer: Jakarta has nothing to worry about. Everything has been regulated in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Indonesia and GAM signed in Helsinki on Aug. 15, 2005. I do not like political rhetoric and government officials in Java should not use rhetoric and make unnecessary comments on such issues.

GAM and all its supporters are strongly committed to the peace accord in order to build a permanent peace and improve the lives of the Acehnese, as an integral part of Indonesia.

How do you convince Jakarta that GAM accepts the Indonesian unitary state, the 1945 Constitution and the state ideology Pancasila?

GAM has already signed the MOU and it has proved its strong commitment to building a permanent peace... only time will prove all this. Jakarta and the international community will see how former rebel leaders who have won local elections lead the provincial government and local administrations.

We are now Indonesian citizens and we have to comply with the MOU, and we have an obligation to achieve national objectives in line with the Constitution and the state ideology.

What is your comment on your apparent victory in the gubernatorial election?

The people apparently have confidence in me. It is really a mandate for me to help them solve all the problems triggered by the 30-year bloody conflict, their current problems and their hopes for a better future.

How will you make the transition from former rebel leader to head of the provincial administration?

I can easily adjust from being a combatant to a civilian because while I was leading my soldiers in the battlefield in the past, I was also, and still am, a civil servant. I am a lecturer at Syiah Kuala University. I'm even considering raising the salaries of civil servants to prevent them from abusing their power and to improve their productivity and service.

What is your main agenda once you take office?

You can see them in our mission and main platform... Our main goals are to introduce and develop a people-oriented economy and intensify economic and educational programs to empower poor families and enable them to send their children to school.

The new Aceh government will provide free elementary and intermediate education for all people in the province, and free education up through university for all children of former GAM combatants.

What problems will you prioritize in dealing with?

Poverty, unemployment and corruption. Almost all rural residents are living in poverty due to the 30-year armed conflict, and almost 40 percent of Acehnese aged between 20 and 40 are jobless. A bigger part of the special autonomy funds will be distributed to empower poor families in rural areas and to help ease the unemployment problem.

We will forge cooperations with local and international non-governmental organizations such as World Vision and International Care and UN agencies to intensify anti-poverty, health and education programs, to provide people with optimism...

How will you fight corruption?

An all-out battle against corruption is a must to create clean and good governance. We will not establish a new anticorruption body, instead empowering and even forcing the existing system to eliminate or minimize corruption. The anticorruption system has been less than effective because the government and law enforcers are not tough in dealing with those involved in graft. I promise that all will be treated equally before the law and nobody will enjoy impunity in the case of corruption and other violations.

How will you cooperate with the provincial legislature in running your government, since you ran as an independent candidate?

There will be no major problems... because we will be working together to serve the people. Despite their parties' policies, the councillors are Acehnese and were elected by the people to channel their aspirations.

What about GAM's future?

The GAM assembly will decide on that. The MOU regulates nothing on GAM the organization, which is separate from its military wing and the armed conflict.

Will GAM establish a political party?

Yes, we will. Although in the absence of a GAM party, we will still be ready to contest the 2009 general elections. We are still waiting for a new law to set up our political party.

What will you do with sharia law?

We support sharia with a stronger emphasis on its religious benefits for Acehnese. Its implementation will be evaluated. Sharia bylaws will be enforced as long as they benefit the people. Bylaws carrying harsh sanctions against common people will be reviewed. And sharia law will apply only to Muslims.

What is your comment on the post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction work?

The provincial government will take over the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency's tasks next year. The BRR has been too slow. It has built only houses, with no social facilities such as road networks, mosques, schools and village buildings. Victims are in need of houses with adequate social facilities, so they can live humanely.

Are you committed to press freedom?

We are familiar with press freedom and we will give the press better access to all events, but they must maintain their neutrality and help establish civil society in the province.

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