Clash in Aceh, calm elsewhere

Clash in Aceh, calm elsewhere

The Jakarta Post, Aceh/Palu/Papua/Ambon

Sporadic gunfights and alleged voter intimidation marked the
historic presidential election on Monday in war-torn Aceh, but
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the security
situation remained generally calm in conflict areas throughout
the country.

Armed clashes broke out in the morning in Alue Merbau Idi Cut
hamlet in Darul Aman, a subdistrict about 20 kilometers west of
East Aceh capital Langsa, when a group of Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) militants ambushed a convoy of policemen securing a
delivery of ballot boxes.

Spokesman for the civil emergency administration Sr. Comr.
Anjaya said the skirmish lasted only a few minutes. No casualties
were reported, and the police succeeded in distributing the
ballot boxes.

Later in the day, police arrested one of six alleged GAM
members who mingled with the crowd gathered at a polling station
in Lamreh Krueng village, Aceh Besar.

Anjaya did not elaborate on the actions of the six alleged
separatists before their arrest, but claimed the rebels were in
possession of two firearms.

He also accused GAM of intimidating voters of Keude Dua
village in Idi Rayeuk subdistrict, East Aceh, as its polling
station stood empty until it closed.

The provisional vote tally in Aceh saw Amien Rais and running
mate Siswono Yudohusodo leading in the provincial capital of
Banda Aceh and in East Aceh, North Aceh and Aceh Taming
regencies.

Security authorities deployed no less than 12,000 policemen
and 22,000 soldiers to maintain security in Aceh on election day.

Meanwhile, locals in Central Sulawesi province, which had been
the site of sectarian conflict until recently, were moved to
exercise their right to vote by high expectations for a new
leader who could bring security and peace.

"If I did not vote for my preferred leaders, I would regret it
for the rest of my life," said Elia, 35, a villager from South
Birobuli, South Palu.

"In this first direct presidential election, I voted for the
right candidates, and it felt great because I was free to do so,"
she said.

A similar excitement was voiced by Roy Mananta, 33, a villager
from Baliase in Morawali subdistrict, Donggala.

"In the past, we knew beforehand who would be president. But
now, we will have to wait until the vote-count ends to know which
candidates have won the people's trust," Roy said.

The province saw tight competition between Golkar's Wiranto-
Solahuddin, the National Mandate Party's Amien-Siswono and the
Democratic Party's Susilo-Kalla in the initial count.

In Papua, traffic was more deserted than ever as people
traveled to polling stations to cast their votes.

Maria (not her real name), 17, said she was happy to vote for
incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri out of a sense of
gender unity.

In the Maluku capital of Ambon, where clashes killed at least
40 people in April, security was relatively relaxed, although
most makeshift polling booths were guarded by armed police.

"I have to do my duty and vote. I hope the next government can
end the conflict," said Daniel Putiray, 56, a retired civil
servant in Maranatha, a Christian part of Ambon, as quoted by
Reuters.