Chapter II
After the tsunami and the existence of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GAM (Free Aceh Movement), Aceh was led by people who were previously considered rebels by the Government of Indonesia. Since 2006 Aceh has been led by Irwandi and Nazar, the first pair directly elected by the Acehnese. Irwandi, a former lecturer in Veterinary Medicine at Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh. Meanwhile, Nazar is the leader of the activist who founded SIRA or Suara Independen Rakyat Aceh.
Under their leadership Aceh underwent changes. The governor and deputy governor pair of Aceh launched the JKA (Aceh Health Insurance) program. Providing a wider space for religious expression as the main spirit of Aceh before joining Indonesia, namely being able to carry out the implementation of Islam as well as possible.
As a result, thousands of dayahs were built in all corners of the village. A pesantren or dayah diploma can be used to register as a state servant. Religious candidates are embraced by legislative and executive candidates. They are facilitated in many features. So that whoever is close to the clergy, half a step is certain to be elected as people's representatives.
After Irwandi - Nazar, Aceh was again led by former GAM fighters. Zaini Abdullah is a GAM diplomat who has lived in Sweden for a long time, while his deputy is Muzakir Manaf or more famous as the former Chief Commander of the Aceh National Army.
It was under these two GAM leaders that the Acehnese people knew that GAM had broken up. Irwandi founded the Aceh National Party (PNA) after he was expelled from the Aceh Party under Mualem.
Irwandi managed to win in the next period with Nova Iriansyah. Nova from the Gayo Tribe, the second most populous tribe in Aceh. Nova, who is also a former lecturer at the Usyiah Faculty of Engineering, when paired with Irwandi, is the chairman of the Aceh Democratic Party. Gayo and Democrats are the two main attractions to him. Mualem and TA. Khalid lost because both of them were Acehnese and both from North Aceh Regency. In addition, even though during the direct election at the central level, Prabowo's Gerindra received sympathies from religious leaders throughout Indonesia, but in Aceh Probowo was closely related to the New Order which gave birth to the Military Operation Area I. TA. Khalid, who is chairman of the Aceh Region of the party founded by Prabowo, namely Gerindra, the Great Indonesia Movement, more or less accepted the streak.
Irwandi and Nova Iriansyah won narrowly in 2017 over Muzakir Manaf and TA. Khalid.
Unfortunately, having only served for months, Irwandi was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Irwandi was imprisoned and the top leadership in Aceh is currently held by Nova. During the corona pandemic, Aceh led himself, assisted by a doctor who became the regional secretary named Dr. Taqwallah, M.Kes.
At the time this note was written, the election for the governor of Aceh, which should have been in 2022, was not certain whether it would be postponed or will it remain in 2022.