Irwandi Ready to Cooperate With Jakarta
Wednesday, 13 December, 2006 | 13:44 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banda Aceh: The anticipated winning candidate for the Governor of Aceh from the Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM), Irwandi Yusuf, has denied that his victory will be made use of to liberate Aceh.

“Now, it is not the time for taking about the conflict of the past since peace recently came to Aceh,” he told Tempo at the Aceh Interim Committee's office yesterday in Banda Aceh.

In the governor’s election two days ago, Irwandi, GAM's representative at the Aceh Monitoring Mission, was paired with Muchamad Nazar of the Information Center for Aceh Referendum (SIRA).

Based on a quick count carried out by PT Lingkaran Survei Indonesia, this pair won 39.27 percent of the total vote.

Irwandi promised that if he were elected he would instead cooperate with Jakarta.

“I can deal with the central government on anything,' he said.
In fact, he said he would not be bothered if police or Indonesian Military officers guard him in the future.

He also said that he would embrace other lost parties or groups.

“There are no political opponents. There are only political fellows.”

ADI WARSIDI | CHOIRUL AMINUDIN | BADRIAH | DIAN YULIASTUTI | OKTAMANDJAYA WIGUNA