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PDI-P nominates former Aceh guerilla commander in regional election
Former GAM commander Muzakir Manaf, who used guerrilla warfare against the Indonesian Military in the late 1990s, was picked by the PDI-P as the party's gubernatorial candidate on a ticket that party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri deemed a "unity" choice.
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri delivers a speech on May 24, 2024, at the party's national meeting. (The Jakarta Post/Courtesy of PDI-P)
T
he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Wednesday announced a list of candidates the party will field in the November gubernatorial election, which included the name of the now-dissolved Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander at the top of the ticket in Aceh.
Former GAM commander Muzakir Manaf, who used guerrilla warfare against the Indonesian Military in the late 1990s, was picked by the PDI-P as the party's gubernatorial candidate on a ticket that party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri deemed a "unity" choice.
"So now who wants to join the PDI-P with this ticket? With this ticket I hope that Aceh can stay united," Megawati said in her speech at the party headquarters in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.
Other politicians nominated by the PDI-P as gubernatorial candidates were Edy Rahmayadi in North Sumatra, Isran Noor in East Kalimantan and Ramdhan Pomanto in South Sulawesi.
In nominating Muzakir, the PDI-P joined forces with the Gerindra Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Muzakir's own Aceh Party.
Muzakir served as deputy governor between 2012 and 2017 alongside fellow GAM leader Zaini Abdullah.
Zaini, now 84, represents the older generation of GAM. After an extended exile in Sweden, he returned to Aceh and later contested the gubernatorial election with the support of the Aceh Party. Muzakir, 60, has been seen as a representative of younger members of GAM.
