ALL FOLKS WANT, AUTONOMY AND DEMOCRACY:

UN chief encouraged by Aceh poll (BBC, 12/12/06)

The UN secretary general has said he is encouraged by the first direct election to be held in the Indonesian province of Aceh since last year's peace deal.

Kofi Annan called on all parties to abide by the results and build on the agreement that ended 29 years of war between the government and separatists.

Unofficial results suggest that former rebel leader Irwandi Yusuf is on course to win the contest for governor. [...]

Much of Aceh was devastated by the tsunami. The scale of the disaster - which killed 170,000 people in Aceh - spurred the rebels and the government into peace talks.

Rebels gave up a demand for independence after winning autonomy and the right to participate fully in democratic elections, drawing a line under 29 years of war that left 15,000 dead.