Sultan named sole candidate for governor<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): After weeks of debate the provincial
\nlegislature here took a vote yesterday evening and decided to put
\nforward the name of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as the sole
\ncandidate for governor.<\/p>\n
Sri Sultan defeated rival Alfian Darmawan, the chairman of the
\nYogyakarta chapter of the United Development Party, and must now
\ngain the approval of the central government.<\/p>\n
How the votes were placed in the 45-member legislature was not
\nimmediately known.<\/p>\n
The vote ended weeks of controversy in which many believed the
\nvery standing of the province's special status was at stake.<\/p>\n
The issue revolved around the debate on whether someone other
\nthan the Yogyakarta aristocracy could assume the post or even be
\nnominated as governor.<\/p>\n
The Golkar and Armed Forces factions, with apparent strong
\npublic support, nominated Sri Sultan as candidate.<\/p>\n
However the United Development Party (PPP) faction insisted on
\nnominating Alfian, thus forcing a vote on the matter.<\/p>\n
Many argued that PPP's action would jeopardize Yogyakarta's
\nspecial status, enshrined in Law No. 3\/1950, in which Sri Sultan
\nHamengkubuwono IX was appointed governor and Paku Alam VIII as
\nhis deputy.<\/p>\n
When the elder Sri Sultan died in 1988, Paku Alam took over as
\nacting governor until he recently asked to step down for health
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
The Golkar and Armed Forces factions have argued that
\nYogyakarta's special legal status requires the governor to be
\nselected from one of the province's two aristocratic houses.<\/p>\n
The situation reached an impasse when the PPP refused to back
\ndown on its decision to nominate their own candidate, despite
\nrepeated public rallies demanding that Sri Sultan be put forward
\nas the sole nominee.<\/p>\n
The Yogyakarta legislature will now submit Sri Sultan's name
\nto the central government for approval.<\/p>\n
Special status<\/p>\n
The overwhelming public display of support for the Sultan and
\ndemands that Yogyakarta retain its special status continued
\nthroughout the day yesterday.<\/p>\n
About 700 protesters from all walks of life -- pedicab
\ndrivers, street vendors, housewives, students and office
\nemployees -- gathered in front of the legislature building to
\ndemand the legislators support Sri Sultan.<\/p>\n
The protesters even forced provincial legislature speaker
\nSubagyo Waryadi to sign a statement pledging his commitment to
\nnominate Sri Sultan as the sole candidate.<\/p>\n
\"We no longer believe oral statements. We need a written one.
\nShould you (legislators) refuse to comply, we will stay here
\nuntil you do,\" one protester, Endang Sudjonoworo, said as she
\npresented Subagyo with a prepared statement for him to sign.<\/p>\n
Subagyo, himself a representative of the Armed Forces faction,
\nsigned the statement in a personal capacity.<\/p>\n
Several other legislators also signed to demonstrate their
\nsupport to the public.<\/p>\n
Late yesterday evening the grounds of the provincial
\nlegislature building were still filled with hundreds of people
\nand a carnival-like atmosphere prevailed. (23\/44\/swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sultan-named-sole-candidate-for-governor-1447893297",
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