Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – A former combatant of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in front of his coffee kiosk in Bireun, Aceh, on Friday evening.

Saiful Husen – the former chairman of Aceh Transitional Committee (KPA), a GAM-affiliated group – died after unknown assailants in a Toyota Avanza van shot him in the chest and head as he left his coffee kiosk on Matang Geulumpang Dua, Bireun, Aceh.

"We are still investigating the case. So far we have just heard from two witnesses. It's too early to say if this has something to do with politics." Bireun Police chief Adj. Comr. Mulyadi said over the weekend.

Saiful recently worked as a security coordinator for Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf's controversial re-election campaign this year.

Saiful previously criticized the Acehnese Party, a local political party established by former GAM fighters, for not backing Irwandi for a second term in February.

He resigned as chairman of the KPA, a strong supporter of the Acehnese Party, by returning the organization's stamp, and was replaced by Darwis Jeunib, a former commander of GAM troops during the conflict.

The police secured the crime scene for investigation and found a bullet and three shell casings. The perpetrators promptly fled the crime scene, according to witnesses.

"For the time being we consider this a usual crime. We don't want to speculate or relate it to other things," Mulyadi said.

Political tensions have risen in Aceh following a dispute between local administrations and legislative bodies on implementing the province's gubernatorial election set for Nov. 14.

The dispute stemmed from the Aceh legislative council's (DPRA) decision not to support independent gubernatorial candidates.

The DPRA is dominated by the Acehnese Party, which decided not to nominate Irwandi for reelection. Irwandi, a former GAM activist, then chose to run as an independent candidate.

The strong support Irwandi received from the public after his decision to run independently prompted the DPRA, encouraged by the Acehnese Party, to pass a bylaw on local elections that banned independent candidates.

The bylaw, among other things, requires that all gubernatorial candidates be nominated by political parties, effectively barring independent candidates. Irwandi refused to sign the bylaw.