Sultan gets further backing

Sultan gets further backing

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Central Java and Yogyakarta Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto said here yesterday that
Yogyakartans' decision to hold a people's council and inaugurate
Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as their governor was a true
expression of people's will that should be respected.

"The ceremony should be accepted because it truly reflects the
people's will," he said.

However, Tyasno stopped short of saying whether he thought it
was a legally valid act.

He contended that the validity of the inauguration would be up
to Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid.

Some 100,000 residents took matters into their own hands on
Wednesday and gathered in front of the provincial legislature in
Yogyakarta to inaugurate Sri Sultan as governor.

A declaration read by a 68-year-old pedicab driver said the
people chose Sri Sultan as governor and demanded that the ancient
town keep its special status.

Sri Sultan has been named the sole candidate for governor.
However, the central government has yet to confirm his
appointment to the post. (45)