Conflict may mar Yogyakarta deputy gubernatorial election
Conflict may mar Yogyakarta deputy gubernatorial election
Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
The race for the post of deputy governor in the Yogyakarta
provincial administration, which is expected to reach its peak
later this month, may renew past conflicts among the descendants
of the Puro Pakualaman royal family.
Descendants of former deputy governor Pakualam VIII and his
second wife Retnaningrum will be compensated for their loss in
the 1999 competition for the Pakualaman sultanate's throne if
their camp wins the election for deputy governor.
Pakualam IX, who is the current Pakualaman sultan and eldest
son of the late Pakualam VIII and his first wife Purnamaningrum,
is also running for the deputy governorship.
The conflict among the late monarch's descendants has lingered
on as he did not designate a successor nor leave any hint as to
the succession.
The Yogyakarta provincial legislative assembly announced a few
months ago that the race was open not only to Permananingrum's
children but also Retnaningrum's.
The provincial assembly's decision opens the door for the camp
comprising Sultana Retnaningrum's children to join the race for
the deputy governorship despite the province's status as a
special region in which the Hamengkubuwono sultan and the
Pakualaman sultan are automatically appointed the province's
governor and deputy governor respectively.
"We are trying to be rational in making the decision. You can
image what would happen if the descendants of both the
Hamengkubowono sultanate and the Pakualaman sultanate were not
available for nomination. This is why we want a number of
candidates from the royal family to run for office so that we can
elect the best," said Herman Abdurrahman, chairman of the
legislative assembly's special committee for the deputy
gubernatorial election.
Pakualam IX had 15 brothers and sisters but only seven have
announced their candidacies for the vice gubernatorial election.
Retnaningrum had six children, namely Prince Probokusumo,
Princess Retno Dewayani, Prince Anglingkusumo, Prince
Songkokusumo, Prince Ndoyokusumo, and Prince Wijoyokusumo.
Pakualam IX's camp has submitted only one name to maintain the
traditional alliance between the Pakualaman and the
Hamengkubuwono sultanates.
Retnaningrum's camp claims it has the support of the Muslim-
based parties, including the United Development Party (PPP) and
the National Mandate Party (PAN), in the provincial legislative
assembly.
Purnamaningrum's camp will likely secure tacit support from
Hamengkubuwono X, Yogyakarta's sultan and governor.
Reliable sources say that Pakualam IX's election as deputy
governor would confirm politically the manifestation of
Yogyakarta's special status by having the rulers of the two
sultanates sworn in as the provincial government's chief and
deputy chief executives.
The provincial legislative assembly is scheduled on Monday to
hold a plenary session to select candidates from the two camps.
Herman said that the Ministry of Home Affairs had also set a
deadline for the council to complete the election before the end
of October. Therefore, the election was scheduled to be held on
Oct. 22.
The vice gubernatorial position has been vacant for the last
two years in line with the 1974 law on regional administration.