GAM wins the poll !...

Irwandi Yusuf of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) coupled with activist Mohammad Nazar are leading with more than 38 percent of the gubernatorial votes while in the second at about 17 per cent are activist A. Humam Hamid and another GAM figure Hasbi Abdullah. That is a quick count result.

Irwandi Yusuf has a strong grassroots network through the hierarchical structure of the Aceh Integration Committee (KPA). He had homework of persuading the Aceh former warlords to mingle with the Indonesian communities in the western-most province of Indonesia and enter the political arena within the country. Jakarta's candidate i.e. former Aceh military commander M. Djali Yusuf with his running mate appeared to be in the last place with no more than 4-percent votes. A GAM member said that the Acehnese are fed up with corruption and high jinks.

The Independent Election Commission (KIP) revealed that yesterday afternoon revealed that Irwandi Yusuf garnered 104,563 votes, followed by Malik Raden 61,815 and Humam Hamid 46,742 of votes totaling 320,370.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned that ballots were still being counted and he still waited for possible vote-rigging. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said GAM no longer exists and the victory of GAM will not make Aceh separate from Indonesia. Indonesian Military commander Djoko Suyanto and Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono warned that Aceh peace agreement specifies that Aceh will remain within the corridor of Indonesia’s Unitary State. The peace pact was signed in Helsinki, Finland, in August last year by both Indonesia and GAM to, among others, give Aceh a greater autonomy.

Aceh is the only province that allows independent gubernatorial candidate to run for administrative office. The victory is indeed a slap in the face to major political parties in the country.

Irwandi Yusuf is somewhat new to the GAM. He was assigned GAM's spokesperson during a peace accord with Jakarta. He frequently flew to Jakarta during the deal to meet Vice President Jusuf Kalla.*