Political tension raises in southeast Aceh

9/6/2007

MEDAN : The disputed inauguration of Southeast Aceh new regent Hasanuddin on Saturday is heightening political tension in Aceh, pitting councillors and top government officials.

Twenty members of the regency's Legislative Council who refuse to recognize Hasanuddin have threatened to sue Aceh governor Irwandi Yusuf, the provincial Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) and Home Minister Mardiyanto for allowing Hasanuddin to take the helm.

Hasanuddin and his running mate Syamsul Bahri were installed on Saturday despite the fierce objection from the majority of the Legislative Council members and political activists.

The conflict stemmed from the confusing results of the ballot counting in the May 14 election. The councillors insisted that the election was won by Armen Desky and Salim Fakhri who received the backing of the Golkar Party, which dominated the council.

The councillors relies on the ballot counting by the regency's KIPP while the government used that of the provincial KIPP, which came out with different results.

Deputy Southeast Aceh council chief Sjech Ahmadin vowed Sunday that although Hasanuddin has been installed as the new regent, the councillors would fight to take him down through the legal avenue. (Apriadi Gunawan)