Acehnese Voting for Regional Leaders
Monday, 11 December, 2006 | 16:36 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banda Aceh: Today the people of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province went to voting posts to elect their regional leaders.

The elections took place all at once to elect governors and regents in all regencies in the province.

The situation as regards voting up until this afternoon was safe.

Most of Aceh Governor candidates voted in Banda Aceh.

Irwandi Jusuf, who is running for office as an independent, voted at Voting Post III, Laksana Village, Banda Aceh at 8.30am local time.

He was accompanied by his deputy candidate Muhammad Nazar.

“I’ve been in this village nine years ago,” said Irwandi, former leader of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), who was once imprisoned.

It was the same for Nazar, Presidium of the Aceh Referendum Information Central (SIRA), who had been a political prisoner.

“For me, to be a political prisoner or a governor is the same,” said Irwandi.

Humam Hamid, a candidate from the United Development Party (PPP), voted at Voting Post IV Lampineung, Banda Aceh.

His deputy Hasbi Abdullah, a GAM leader who had been imprisoned for 13 years, voted at Voting Post IC, Laksana Village, Banda Aceh.

Malek Raden a candidate from Golkar Party, voted at Voting Post II, Lampriet, Banda Aceh.

Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar, a representative from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice and Prosperous Party (PKS) chose to vote at Voting Post I, Guecue Inem, Banda Aceh.

Adi Warsidi