Aceh Governor Candidates Disappoint Conflict Victims
Thursday, 30 November, 2006 | 13:51 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Several victims of the conflict in Aceh have stated their disappointment as regards all the Aceh Governor candidates who will compete in the Aceh Governor’s election on December 11.

This disappointment was revealed when the eight governor candidates did not come to a discussion entitled “Regional leader election and Conflict Victims.”

The discussion was held by Kontras (Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence) Aceh and Students Solidarity for the People, in Banda Aceh yesterday (29/11).

During the discussion, none of the eight candidates showed up.

However a number of conflict victims said they hoped that there will be an attitude confirmation regarding the vision and mission of governor candidates on Aceh conflict victims.

Yesterday the conflict victims also said they planned to make an agreement with the candidates to pay attention to them.

“Their absence proves they are not concerned over conflict victims,” said Rukaiyah, one of conflict victims from Aceh Besar.

Rukaiyah said she considered that the eight candidates did not have clear programs to investigate various human rights violations in the past.

Nonetheless, the victims are seeking justice, those who have suffered during the conflict in Aceh.

According to Hendra Fadli from Kontras Aceh, the discussion was attended by 150 representatives of conflict victims who came from throughout Aceh.

Usman Hamid, Head of the Kontras Working Agency, regretted the candidates' attitude for not attending the discussion.

“Perhaps they consider the voice of the conflict victims is not significant in the election later,” he said.

One of candidate pairs, Irwandi Yusuf and Muhammad Nazar, was seen campaigning at Blang Asan field, Matang Glumpang II, Peusangan Subdistrict, Bireun.

Several residents said they came to this pair's campaign because they sympathized to the pair that run for office via independent track.

“This is a special track for the Acehnese because this is the first time they are free from being tied to existing political parties,” said Kemal Idris, 34, Gandapura Subdistrict resident.

Adi W and Imran MA