Ahmad Tajudin and Teuku Suriansyah

Ahmad Tajudin, 50, popularly known as Abi Lampisang, a prominent local ulema who leads the Al-Muhajirin Teungku Chik Di Ujeun Islamic boarding school in Great Aceh. Besides learning from other prominent ulema like Abu Chik Tanoeh Abe, Abu Tumin and Ayah Samalanga, the senior Free Aceh Movement (GAM) member also counts as one of his teachers the late Hasan Tiro, leader of GAM and the late Indonesian president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid.

He is also the former kadhi or leader of the then so-called Independent Aceh Sumatra State.
His running mate is Suriansyah, the former president director of state-owned paper producer PT Kertas Kraft Aceh during 2002-2007. When Gus Dur was president in 1999, Suriansyah was one of the president’s advisors on Aceh issues. Suriansyah is now a member of the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP).

Vision
Peoples’ salvation in life and afterlife

Mission
1. To speed strategic infrastructure development
2. To prioritize religious and cultural values in development
3. To boost prosperity and reduce poverty
4. To conserve the environment
5. To boost bureaucratic performance and eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Supporters: Muslim scholars, students of Islamic boarding schools, some former combatants.

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Irwandi Yusuf and Muhyan Yunan (Independent)

Irwandi was Aceh’s first directly elected governor, serving from 2006 to 2011. Irwandi led GAM’s intelligence unit during the separatist campaign and represented GAM at the Helsinki peace talks. He is currently popular for the provision of free health services under his administration’s Aceh Health Insurance (JKA). Irwandi is well-known for his straight-forwardness. He was a member of the Aceh Party, which comprises former GAM members, however, after a serious dispute between him and the party leaders, Irwandi nominated himself as an independent candidate for governor.
His running mate Muhyan previously led Aceh’s Public Works Agency.

Vision
 To resume fundamental transformation in Aceh that will focus on transparency and accountability. 

Mission  
1. To resume human resources development based on competency and Aceh culture   
2. To resume sustainable peace through implementation of the Helsinki MoU based on democracy and human rights
3. To create good governance to support low cost and quick public services    
4. To use sustainable natural resources fairly to support Aceh’s economic growth
5. To develop, improve and maintain basic infrastructure to support the production system and basic services

Supporters: Some members of the political elite from the Office of Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry, various NGOs and activists, the local Aceh Peoples’ Party (PRA) and several prominent former GAM leaders, including former spokesperson Sofyan Dawood, former reintegration agency chief Nur Djuli and Muharram, a former guerrilla commander in Greater Aceh.

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Darni M. Daud and Teuku Ahmad Fauzi (Independent)

Darni Daud is the rector of Aceh state university Syiah Kuala, while Ahmad Fauzi is a senior lecturer of the state-run Islamic University IAIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. Darni and Fauzi call themselves the heart of the Syiah Kuala University, often referred to as the heart of the Acehnese.  

Darni claims that he and Fauzi represent Aceh’s diversity as he was born in Pidie Jaya, while his wife comes from Central Aceh. Meanwhile, Fauzi is a native of East Aceh and his wife comes from Greater Aceh.  
Fauzi is a lecturer with a masters degree in political and religious sciences

Vision  
To achieve Aceh’s dignity, peace and prosperity, based on religious values.

Mission   
1. To improve Islamic syariah, education, culture and health, with equal access for all Acehnese
2. To improve and boost sustainability and a fair local economy     
3. To improve and boost public infrastructure to strengthen competitiveness, as well as to reduce risks of disaster.

Supporters: Syiah Kuala alumni and students, and academicians.

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Muhammad Nazar and Nova Iriansyah  

Muhammad Nazar is the former deputy to then governor Irwandi Yusuf. Supporters include the Democratic Party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Voice of the Independent Acehnese (SIRA) Party.   
Nazar headed the original SIRA, the Aceh Referendum Information Center, which successfully gathered 2 million people demanding a referendum, to allow people to vote for independence in Banda Aceh in 1999. He was arrested twice, and released after the government granted him amnesty in 2005.   
Meanwhile Nova, an entrepreneur, was the leader of the Aceh Democratic Party.  

Vision  
To establish transformation and development toward prosperity, security, peace and justice, dignity and a civilized life  

Mission
1. To develop people to be more religious, productive, pro-development and civilized through the power of transformation
2. To develop fundamental needs to bring about sustainable prosperity
3. Normalizing government functions and development based on laws and Aceh’s values to achieve good and clean governance
4. Law enforcement, political education and security without discrimination

Supporters: Democratic Party, United Development Party (PPP), local party SIRA.

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Zaini Abdullah and Muzakir Manaf  

Zaini Abdullah is a co-founder and former foreign minister of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), while Muzakir Manaf was a GAM guerrilla  commander. Zaini, whose younger brother Hasbi Abdullah is the chairman  of the Aceh Legislative Council, spent a third of his life supporting GAM, including a lengthy exile in Sweden with GAM chief patron Hasan di Tiro.

The pairing combines the older and younger generation of the former GAM.   

Vision
To achieve prosperity, justice and self reliance based on the Aceh Governance Law, as part of the commitment to the Helsinki MoU

Mission  
1. To improve Aceh’s bureaucracy through implementation and accomplishment of the Aceh Governance Law to maintain lasting peace
2. To implement cultural and Islamic values
3. To strengthen the economy through qualified human resources
4. To create added value on people’s production and optimize the use of natural resources  
5. To create proportional, sustainable and integrated development   

Supporters:
Local parties: Aceh Party and Daulat Aceh; National parties: Golkar, Crescent Star Party (PBB), National Mandate Party (PAN), Patriot Party, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Indonesian Party for Unity and Justice (PKPI), some political elites in Jakarta.

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