Politic Headlines

Theindonesiatoday.com - An internal friction in the Aceh Election Commission (KIP Aceh) has emerged over the stages of Aceh elections including schedule of the elections day following the latest interlocutory ruling from the Constitutional Court (MK) which ordered KIP Aceh to re-open the registration period for another seven days.

Abdul Salam Poroh, KIP Aceh chairman, has issued KIP Aceh Letter No. 29/2012 about the registration schedule for new pair candidates. KIP Aceh decided to keep the schedule of the elections on February 16, 2012 and only giving three days (January 18-20, 2012) for candidate of governor-vice governor, regent-vice regent, and mayor-vice mayor to registering themselves. KIP Aceh said it needs four days to verify the candidates.

According to Abdul Salam, the letter refers to MK’s interlocutory decision and also the letter from General Election Commission (KPU), which ordered KIP Aceh to keep the schedule of Aceh elections on February 16, 2012.

Robby Syahputra, other executive member of KIP Aceh, meanwhile, protested KIP Aceh Letter No. 29/2012. Robby even accused that Abdul Salam has issued the letter unilaterally without ask an approval from other members of the commission. “The letter was issued by KIP Aceh chairman without an approval from other members in a plenary meeting. Although Pak Salam Poroh is a chairman, he’s also a member, who has equal rights with other members,” Robby said.

Robby hopes other members would agree with him to send a letter to MK asking additional time for registration period of candidates. He believes that KIP at regency/mayoralty level will not able to implementing all the stages of registration in only a few days. “Technically, it’s impossible and it will affecting to the quality of the elections, while MK demands KIP Aceh to hold a qualified, honorable, and fair elections.”

Until Thursday (Jan 19), there’s no pair candidate using the window of registration.  Aceh Party, the biggest local political party in the province, however, stated that they definitely would registering its candidates for the elections.

According to its earlier statement, Aceh Party will propose Zaini Abdullah and Muzakkir Manaf as governor and vice governor candidates. Aceh Party, which is a representation of former Aceh Free Movement (GAM), currently controls 17 regencies/cities.
Military Commander, Admiral Agus Suhartono, meanwhile, stated that Aceh's status is similar to Papua, which is classified a civil order (tertib sipil) status. “Both Papua and Aceh are in civil order status, which means we will help the Police upon request,” Agus told yesterday.

The incumbent governor Irwandi Yusuf previously expressed his rejection over civil order status for Aceh. Irwandi argued that security condition in Aceh is conducive. “There’s no need to set a civil order status. I walk alone anywhere safely,” Irwandi said convincingly.

MK has on Tuesday (January 17) in its interlocutory decision of a lawsuit filed by internal affairs minister ruled against the decision of Aceh Election Commission (KIP Aceh). MK has decided to order KIP Aceh to re-open the registration period of Aceh elections for another seven days. The decision is taken to give a time for all parties to participate as a candidate of governor-vice governor, regent-vice regent, and mayor-vice mayor in the elections.

MK explained in its consideration that MK had actually issued an interlocutory decision on November 2, 2011 to order KIP Aceh to extend the registration period of Aceh elections for seven days. MK, however, said that it understands that there are some parties who were still waiting for a legal certainty of the elections at that time which triggered them not to registering themselves. MK then issued final decision on November 24, 2011 asking KIP Aceh to continue the elections. MK in Tuesday's trial chaired by constitutional judge Harjono and two others judges (Mohammad Alim and Hamdan Zoelva), decided to issue another interlocutory decision asking KIP Aceh to re-open the registration period of Aceh elections because MK worried that its final decision on November 24, 2011, which gave legal basis for the election, will be meaningless.

The central government via internal affairs minister filed a lawsuit about postponement of Aceh elections to MK on January 10 while later Aceh Party also filed a similar lawsuit to MK on January 13.

The incumbent pair candidate of Aceh governor and vice governor, Irwandi Yusuf and Muhyan Yunan meanwhile along with thirtyfour other pair candidates firmly stated yesterday that they refuse any plan to postpone the elections in the region. They also threatened to sues Aceh Election Commission (KIP Aceh) and Internal Affairs Minister to the Constitutional Court (MK) if both parties. (haryanto@theindonesiatoday.com)