Electoral/Political Party Reform: MoU between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement
Implementations
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2005
The draft autonomy bill which was initiated in September 2005 provided for the establishment of local political parties that would facilitate the process of transforming the GAM into a local political party.1 In December, the government of Indonesia was about to submit the draft law to the Indonesian parliament.2
- “Aceh: So Far, So Good,” International Crisis Group Asia Briefing N°44, December 13, 2005
- “Controversy over drafting of constitution for Indonesia’ Aceh continues,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, December 22, 2005.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2006
The draft bill was submitted to the parliament in January.1 and the bill was passed by the parliament on 11 June.2 As provided in the accord, new conventional identity cards were distributed before November elections.3 Just before the local elections, the bill received presidential assent and became a law. Provisions related to local political parties were discussed in Articles 78 and 79 of the law. The law also establishes an Independent Election Commission (KIP) and gives authority to require audit and announce the report on the donation of campaign fund.
As provided in the accord, elections took place on 11 December 2006. In the election, leader of Free Aceh Movement, Irawandi Yusuf won the elections and set to become the first elected governor of the province. Official results were set to be announced in January 2007.4
- “Indonesia submits draft law on Aceh to parliament,” Agence France Presse, January 27, 2006.
- “Indonesian media reacts to passing of Aceh governance law,” BBC Monitoring, July 12, 2006.
- “Indonesia’s Aceh polls set to take place without foreign monitors,” Agence France Presse, June 13, 2006.
- “Former Rebel Wins in Aceh’s First Elections in Indonesia,” Voice of America News, December 27, 2006.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2007
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) established a political party called Aceh Party after clarifying the symbol and flag of the party, which initially matched that of GAM.1
- Ben Hillman, “Power-sharing and political party engineering in conflict-prone societies: the Indonesian experiment in Aceh,” Conflict, Security & Development 20 (2012): 149-169, 2012.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2008
No further developments on political party and electoral reform in 2008.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2009
The election for a provincial legislature took place on 9 April 2009 and the Aceh Party secured 46.01% votes, which gave them 33 seats out of 69 seats in the proportional system. Five other local parties did not meet the 5% threshold required by law to gain a seat.1
- Ibid; “Former rebel party looks likely to dominate Aceh parliament,” Japan Economic Newswire, April 20, 2009.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2010
No further developments related to political party and electoral reform reported.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2011
No further developments observed.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2012
No further developments observed.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2013
No further developments observed.
Electoral/Political Party Reform – 2014
No further developments observed.