Will Aceh be another failed state like East Timor? Not if Irwandi Yusuf, the troubled province's new governor, has his way. Irwandi, a rebel-turned-politician, was sworn in today as Aceh's first directly-elected governor, a post which he won two months ago.

His coming to power put an end to the three-decade-old secessionist war in which many lives were lost in the resource-rich province of Indonesia.

Irwandi's ( left, showing the indelible ink on his finger after he voted ) thumping victory also confirmed the deep-seated distrust among Acehnese to parties seen to be linked to Jakarta, and their general support for Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the former separatist group.

The twin disasters - the earthquake and tsunami - that struck Aceh in December 2004 was a blessing in disguise. It brought GAM and the Indonesian government back to the negotiation table despite repeated failures in previous talks.

The peace negotiation, which was brokered by a Finnish non-governmental organisation, ended with the signing of a peace accord a year later. This peace agreement provided the broad framework for a 'self-governing' system in Aceh.

In exchange for GAM's demand for independence, the new system grants Aceh genuine political autonomy under the state of Indonesia. It gives the local government vast decision-making power, the establishment of local political parties, a huge slice of Aceh's oil revenue and the reintegration of GAM into society.

The gubernatorial election held on Dec 11 last year was Aceh's first direct election under the new law. Another major election for legislative body will be held in 2009. Local political parties - previously banned by Jakarta - will be formed under the framework of the peace accord to contest the election.

Irwandi's victory surprised many, especially in the wake of a poll conducted prior to the gubernatorial election. According to the poll, 36 percent of voters had yet to made up their mind, leaving frontrunners such as Irwandi with less than 20 percent each. A second round of voting must be held if no candidate can bag more than 25 percent of votes. In the days leading to the election, experts predicted a second round of voting.

But 47-year-old Irwandi, a former veterinary science university lecturer, was confident.

On election day, he went to a small polling station in Kampong Laksana in Banda Aceh, the capital city, to witness the vote counting. It was not an area where he had wide support. Donned in his signature all-black button-up shirt and pants, Irwandi sat alone ( photo ) at the back of the hall as the counting took place.

Asked why he chose not to be outside the city where his political base was strongest, he told malaysiakini , "I know I'm winning elsewhere. But I want to be at a place where I know I'm bound to lose so that I won't get too carried away when the final result is announced."

True enough, Irwandi lost in Kampong Laksana, but won just about everywhere else.