Polemic Over Gowa Local Regulation: Crown Prince Demands Revocation and Palace Sovereignty
A solemn yet tense atmosphere enveloped the courtyard of the Balla Lompoa Palace in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, on Saturday afternoon. Thousands of traditional customary troops, dressed in traditional uniforms, marched under the afternoon sun to listen to the address by the Crown Prince of the Gowa Sultanate, Andi Muhammad Imam Daeng Situju.
The Gowa Sultanate’s troop assembly culminated in the delivery of five stern demands. The Crown Prince officially called upon constitutional promises, urging the Gowa Regency Government and the Regional House of Representatives (Dud) to revoke the Local Customary Institution (LAD) Regional Regulation Number 5 of 2016.
In his address, Andi Muhammad Imam presented five main ultimatum points. Despite the palpable pressure, the Crown Prince firmly instructed his troops to maintain order, respect security forces, and avoid provocation. He emphasised that this assembly was not an act of hostility, but rather a peaceful, constitutionally-based struggle to restore ancestral dignity.
The controversy stems from LAD Regional Regulation Number 5 of 2016, enacted on 15 August 2016. A primary source of conflict is Article 1, Paragraph 3, which stipulates that the Regent of Gowa serves as the chairman of the local customary institution while simultaneously performing the functions and roles of the Sombayya.
As a matter of historical context, Sombayya is a traditional title for the kings of Gowa, literally meaning “The One Worshipped in Gowa”. The royal family views this regulation as a form of coup against the legitimate King of Gowa, as it places the Regent in a position that functionally usurps the King’s role. The regulation is perceived to have undermined the kingdom’s dignity, leading to prolonged disputes between supporters of the Gowa Kingdom and the Local Government.
In addition to the revocation of the regulation, the royal family is demanding the return of the management of the Balla Lompoa Palace to the kingdom. The palace, which means “Great House”, was built in 1935 by the 35th King of Gowa, Sultan Muhammad Thahir Muhibuddin.
Currently, Balla Lompoa serves as a museum managed by the Gowa Regency Tourism and Culture Office. Andi Muhammad Imam revealed that the dispute over management has persisted for a long time.
“For a long time, it has not been the kingdom managing this. It is still being managed by the government. However, we possess evidence that the royal family should remain the managers of the palace,” stated Andi Muhammad Proclamation.
In 2019, an agreement was made with the former Regent of Gowa involving three main clauses. According to the Crown Prince, only the third clause has been implemented. He explained that this is why the demands have resurfaced so massively now: “Because the previous Regent was still in office. It would have been inappropriate for us to demand this while he was serving. Now that his term has ended, we are making our demands.”
The people of the Gowa Sultanate do not intend to stop at the assembly. They plan to continue their movement with large-scale demonstrations on 5-6 August 2026, centred at the DPRD Office and the Gowa Regent’s Office.
“God willing, we will bring even more troops than we have today. We will continue to pressure the DPRD so that the regulation is revoked and our demands are met,” exclaimed Andi Muhammad Imam. He emphasised that the royal party will consistently voice its rights until the regulation is repealed and customary sovereignty is fully restored.