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.