Acehnese want direct elections for officials
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The direct election of governors, regents and mayors in war-torn Aceh as stipulated in Law No. 18/2001 on the province's special autonomy status, has gained support from numerous sides and is viewed as a way to regain people's confidence in the government.
A seminar on direct elections in the city on Tuesday featuring academics, politicians and activists, recommended that the provincial administration and legislative council give priority to the issuance of rulings on several crucial issues, including on direct elections, to implement the special autonomy law.
Humam Hamid, a political expert from Syah Kuala University in the city, Ashari Basar, chairman of the provincial legislature, Naimah Hasan, a local activist and Smita Notosusanto of CETRO shared the opinion that the bylaw on direct elections should be issued immediately so that the people could elect their own leaders in the executive body in line with the implementation of autonomy law this year.
They criticized the provincial administration which has not yet drafted a bylaw on direct elections.
"The government will regain the people's confidence if they are allowed to elect their leaders through a direct election," Humam hamid said in the seminar.
According to him, the situation in Aceh has worsened over the last few years because of the lack of confidence in government officials since they are appointed by the central government.
Ashari said that the provincial legislative council had frequently proposed to Governor Abdullah Puteh to submit a draft bylaw on direct gubernatorial elections but he had not acted on it.
He vowed to fight for a direct gubernatorial election to held as soon as possible.
Abdullah's term of office will end in 2004.
Smita called on the provincial legislative council to prepare the draft ruling on direct elections so that it could be implemented immediately.
Meanwhile, a poll conducted by the Foundation for Human Rights Care in Aceh, Cetro and Kompas daily between Aug. 11 and Aug. 15, 2002, has shown that 91 percent of 1,114 respondents in 14 regencies and mayoralties in the province, supported the direct election of members of the legislature and state officials.
Kamal Farza of the Solidarity for a Corruption-Free Society (SAMAK) said on Wednesday that the recommendation of the seminar and the poll showed that the Aceh conflict should not be seen only from the security perspective.
"Both the seminar and poll show that there is a leadership crisis in the province and not a security problem. It is better to listen to what the people want to do rather than attempt to stop the violence with guns," he said.