Hamengkubuwono X to send team to talks

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Yogyakarta's Sultan Hamengkubuwono X is to set up a small team to represent the sultanate palace in talks with the government aimed at drafting a presidential decree covering gubernatorial succession in the special province.

President B.J. Habibie has agreed to set up a joint team with representatives from the palace, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Secretariat to end the controversy over Hamengkubuwono's appointment as Yogyakarta governor in place of the aging Sri Paku Alam VIII.

The sultan has reiterated that his appointment should be based on Law No. 3/1950 which covers the selection of governor for the special province, while the government believes the appointment should be based on Law No. 5/1974 which limits a governor's term in office to a maximum of two periods.

The Yogyakarta provincial legislative council recently put forward Hamengkubuwono as its sole candidate for governor.

He said he had no intention of being governor for life and that his nomination by the legislative council was based on Law No. 3/1950.

"Of most importance in this case is that I will not become governor for life. The term I spend in office will depend on the joint team," he said after attending a seminar on foreign investment here on Saturday.

Reliable sources at the palace said the sultan had asked Ichlasul Amal, who is rector of the University of Gadjah Mada, and Koento Wibisono, the chairman of the association of the university's alumni (Kagama), to join the team.

Sri Paku Alam's appointment as Yogyakarta governor was also based on Law No. 3/1950.

The law stipulates that governors in the special province must come from the royal family and be appointed directly by the president through a presidential decree. (44)