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.