Yogyakartans install Sultan in defiance of govt

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)