Clash in Aceh, calm elsewhere<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Aceh\/Palu\/Papua\/Ambon<\/p>\n
Sporadic gunfights and alleged voter intimidation marked the
\nhistoric presidential election on Monday in war-torn Aceh, but
\nNational Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the security
\nsituation remained generally calm in conflict areas throughout
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Armed clashes broke out in the morning in Alue Merbau Idi Cut
\nhamlet in Darul Aman, a subdistrict about 20 kilometers west of
\nEast Aceh capital Langsa, when a group of Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) militants ambushed a convoy of policemen securing a
\ndelivery of ballot boxes.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the civil emergency administration Sr. Comr.
\nAnjaya said the skirmish lasted only a few minutes. No casualties
\nwere reported, and the police succeeded in distributing the
\nballot boxes.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, police arrested one of six alleged GAM
\nmembers who mingled with the crowd gathered at a polling station
\nin Lamreh Krueng village, Aceh Besar.<\/p>\n
Anjaya did not elaborate on the actions of the six alleged
\nseparatists before their arrest, but claimed the rebels were in
\npossession of two firearms.<\/p>\n
He also accused GAM of intimidating voters of Keude Dua
\nvillage in Idi Rayeuk subdistrict, East Aceh, as its polling
\nstation stood empty until it closed.<\/p>\n
The provisional vote tally in Aceh saw Amien Rais and running
\nmate Siswono Yudohusodo leading in the provincial capital of
\nBanda Aceh and in East Aceh, North Aceh and Aceh Taming
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
Security authorities deployed no less than 12,000 policemen
\nand 22,000 soldiers to maintain security in Aceh on election day.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, locals in Central Sulawesi province, which had been
\nthe site of sectarian conflict until recently, were moved to
\nexercise their right to vote by high expectations for a new
\nleader who could bring security and peace.<\/p>\n
\"If I did not vote for my preferred leaders, I would regret it
\nfor the rest of my life,\" said Elia, 35, a villager from South
\nBirobuli, South Palu.<\/p>\n
\"In this first direct presidential election, I voted for the
\nright candidates, and it felt great because I was free to do so,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
A similar excitement was voiced by Roy Mananta, 33, a villager
\nfrom Baliase in Morawali subdistrict, Donggala.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, we knew beforehand who would be president. But
\nnow, we will have to wait until the vote-count ends to know which
\ncandidates have won the people's trust,\" Roy said.<\/p>\n
The province saw tight competition between Golkar's Wiranto-
\nSolahuddin, the National Mandate Party's Amien-Siswono and the
\nDemocratic Party's Susilo-Kalla in the initial count.<\/p>\n
In Papua, traffic was more deserted than ever as people
\ntraveled to polling stations to cast their votes.<\/p>\n
Maria (not her real name), 17, said she was happy to vote for
\nincumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri out of a sense of
\ngender unity.<\/p>\n
In the Maluku capital of Ambon, where clashes killed at least
\n40 people in April, security was relatively relaxed, although
\nmost makeshift polling booths were guarded by armed police.<\/p>\n
\"I have to do my duty and vote. I hope the next government can
\nend the conflict,\" said Daniel Putiray, 56, a retired civil
\nservant in Maranatha, a Christian part of Ambon, as quoted by
\nReuters.<\/p>",
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