Yogya councillors reluctant to scrap sultan's privilege
Yogya councillors reluctant to scrap sultan's privilege
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
The provincial legislature remains reluctant to scrap the
privilege of the sultan, where he is given first choice to take
the gubernatorial post, despite the growing spirit of reform and
autonomy.
A special committee drafting the gubernatorial election
procedures has concluded that the historical legacy of Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X and Prince Paku Alam VII would be taken into
consideration in the upcoming election of governor and deputy
governor in August. The two late national heroes are the fathers
of the incumbent governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and deputy
governor Paku Alam IX respectively.
Secretary of the committee Bachrun Nawawi insisted on
Wednesday that the stipulation would not undermine democracy.
"Our decision is basically to give all citizens, not just the
heirs of the palace and the principality, an equal chance to
contest the gubernatorial race," Bachrun told reporters.
Article 2 of the draft says that the gubernatorial and deputy
gubernatorial posts are open to all Indonesian citizens, while
considering the historical legacy of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX of
Yogyakarta Palace and Paku Alam VIII of Pakualaman principality.
The councillors and local political experts are also drafting
a bill on the special status of Yogyakarta, which maintains the
privilege of heirs of the sultan and Pakualaman principal to hold
the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial posts.
Members of the special committee debating the gubernatorial
election procedures, however, were split on the word
"considering". Some insisted the clause held no implications, but
the others disagreed.
"We will see whether the word has significance when we discuss
the rest of the articles," Bachrun said.
The 17-member special committee began the deliberation on
Monday and is pressed for time to complete the draft by April 4.
Hamengkubuwono X and Paku Alam IX will end their tenure in
October.
Bachrun expressed doubts that the committee would be able to
finish its job on time, especially because of the difference of
opinion among the committee members on the prerogative of the
royal families.
The privilege of the heirs of the royal families refers to
Article 122 of the Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and Law
No. 151/2000 on gubernatorial elections, which acknowledges the
special status of Yogyakarta province due to its history and role
in the independence struggle.
Yogyakarta was a sovereign territory when its sultan
Hamengkubuwono IX decided to join the Republic of Indonesia in
1945.
The special status, in this case, is recognized from the way
the election of governor and vice governor of the province is
held by giving consideration to candidates from the royal
families.