Yogyakartans install Sultan in defiance of govt
YOGYAKARTA (JP): In an unprecedented display of defiance toward the government, around 100,000 local people gathered at the provincial legislature yesterday to install the governor of their choice -- hereditary monarch Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.
A 68-year-old pedicab driver called Tukiran Sukiyat read out a statement entitled Maklumat Rakyat Yogyakarta (the Declaration of the People of Yogyakarta) which demanded recognition of Sri Sultan as the governor and the maintenance of the special regional status accorded to Yogyakarta for decades.
Pedicab drivers, street vendors, farmers, lawyers, students, lecturers, housewives and even transvestites joined the rare event. Some of them had camped out in the grounds of the legislature since Sunday.
"This ceremony confirms that Ngarso Dalem (Sri Sultan's nickname) is our new governor," a person in the crowd said.
The ceremony was held to defy the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has insisted that the province should conform to Law No. 5/1974 which states that at least three candidates must stand in gubernatorial elections.
However Yogyakartans have insisted on choosing their own man, citing Law No 3/1950 which granted the province special status and named Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX as governor and another member of the local aristocracy, Paku Alam VII, as his deputy.
Sri Sultan, who came to the ceremony with the entire royal family, said he had been given a mandate by his people and would accept the post.
"I accepted the post not because of my ambition (to become governor)," Sultan said. "Having other candidates for governor would jeopardize Law No. 3."
The monarch also claimed he had met with President B.J. Habibie, who agreed he would be the sole candidate in the election.
"I don't want to be a lifelong governor. I would not object to a successor should I reach an age at which I am considered too old for the position," he said.
In Jakarta, Minister of Justice Muladi said the inauguration had no legal basis.
Meanwhile in Surabaya, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid installed Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo Suparno as Governor of East Java, replacing Maj. Gen. (ret) Basofi Sudirman, who is currently in hospital being treated for dengue fever.
Imam said he had visited Basofi in hospital on Tuesday. "I really admire him and I intend to continue with his unfinished programs," Imam said.
In his address, Syarwan said governors were given five years in office and that if they failed to perform they would lose their jobs, but could be given a second term in office if they demonstrated an aptitude for their work.
In this era of reform, the head of a province should consider the aspirations of the people. "If the public continually rejects a governors policies, he should resign," he said.
Syarwan made a point of reminding Imam that he was elected following a long and controversial nomination process, and that some groups in society were dead set against him.
"It is your duty to try to embrace all groups because people are becoming more daring and critical," he said.
Born in Jombang in May 1943, Imam is a former commander of the Brawijaya Regional Military Command. He is also a legislator in the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR).
In the election held earlier this month, he won 65 votes and an overwhelming majority from the East Java provincial legislature. His two rivals Syumli Sadli and Bambang Rahino Setokoemo received 25 and 10 votes respectively.
The nomination process drew speculation that the election was being rigged in Imam's favor because the Ministry of Home Affairs insisted on vetting the list of candidates drawn up by the provincial legislature. Maj. Gen. (ret) Haris Sudarno and the incumbent Basofi were dropped from the initial list of five nominees submitted to the ministry for approval. (nur/44/swa)