Indonesia’s only province ruled by Islamic law went to the polls Monday to elect its powerful governor, testing a fragile peace following a 30-year war by separatist rebels. The elections in Aceh were the second since the province suffered 170,000 fatalities in the Asian tsunami of 2004, and since the war against Indonesian rule ended in 2005, having claimed 15,000 lives. Voters cast their ballots for governor — the top post in the province — as well as 17 district heads and deputies, with official results expected in mid-April. Irwandi Yusuf, the 51-year-old incumbent who was elected in December 2006, is seeking a second five-year term as governor, with his main challenge coming from the powerful Aceh Party’s Zaini Abdullah, 71. A respected local survey group said that a quick count from 350 randomly chosen polling stations — that did not reflect official results — showed that Abdullah would win. At the village of Ulee Lheue on the outskirts of the capital Banda Aceh, voters cast their ballots at the Baiturrahim Mosque, the only structure in the fishing community that survived the tsunami. “We want a leader who will look after us,” said Bursiadi, a 38-year-old fisherman who lost 20 family members and was himself taken for dead until waking up in a body bag. “The tsunami was the lowest point for us all and we want to put that behind,” said Bursiadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
