Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – The upcoming gubernatorial elections in Aceh are facing uncertainty following a move by the ruling Aceh Party (PA) to challenge the Independent Election Commission's (KIP) decision to go ahead with the poll as scheduled.
The suit has been filed by Zaini Abdulah and Muzakir Manaf, PA's governor and deputy governor candidates, although the party's board is still stalling on officially registering them as they are still hoping to have the poll postponed from Feb. 16.
The suit, which was reportedly lodged with the Constitutional Court (MK) on Friday, came in the wake of a move by the Home Ministry to also have the poll postponed.
A lawyer for the two PA candidates, Kammaruddin, said his clients had filed the suit with the court as the planned poll did not as yet have a certain, legal base. The planned election still uses a 2006 qanun, or sharia bylaw, on regional elections, which according to Kammaruddin is no longer relevant.
"There has been no revision of the bylaw, so it cannot be implemented. It is no longer relevant because, at the time the regulation was issued, Aceh did not have local political parties" he said.
Four pairs of candidates have been nominated for the elections although, according to Kammaruddin, many local and national parties have yet to register their candidates while they wait for the issuance of a new legal umbrella.
The four pairs are: Irwandi Yusuf-Muhyan Yunan; Muhammad Nazar-Nova Iriansyah; Tengku Ahmad Tajudin-Teuku Suriansyah; and Darni Daud-Ahmad Fauzi.
Irwandi is the incumbent governor who, along with his running mate Muhammad Nazar, rose to the province's top job, helped by PA's win in the last election.
The internal bickering that followed resulted in Irwandi parting company with his party and the governor is now seeking his second term as an independent candidate.
While using the lack of a legal base as the main reason for its suit, PA's move is believed to be part of a maneuver to block Irwandi's candidacy.
His nomination for the next poll as an independent candidate was facilitated by a qanun, which was issued to accommodate former members of the now-defunct Free Aceh Movement (GAM). PA is reported to be the political vehicle of former GAM members.
Based on the Helsinki memorandum of understanding of 2006, which is regarded as the milestone in the process to end GAM's resistance toward the central government, independent candidates may run for an election only once, after which a new qanun would have to be drawn up to provide guidance.
"Despite the controversy, the KIP is insisting on holding the elections based on an old qanun. This could allow anyone to question the organization of this election," Kammaruddin said.
Elite conflicts are believed to have triggered terror tactics and violence that have claimed several civilian lives in recent weeks. Six migrant workers were shot dead during the first week of the new year. The attacks have prompted an exodus by workers seeking to leave Aceh.