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)