Yogyakarta's special status debated

YOGYAKARTA (JP): A royal row is brewing here with President B.J. Habibie likely having to decide whether someone other than a descendant of the Yogyakarta aristocracy would be eligible to become governor of the special province.

After a tough round of debate, which saw the Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP) factions remaining steadfast in their stance, the provincial legislature decided Saturday to refer the matter to the central government in Jakarta.

"Since we could not come to an agreement we decided to throw the matter to the president," said deputy speaker Khairudin.

The row revolves around the nomination of a new governor with the recent retirement of Paku Alam VIII at the age of 91 according to the Javanese calender, or about 88 on the Gregorian calender.

Paku Alam served as "acting" governor since the death of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX in 1988.

The Golkar and Armed Forces factions, apparently with strong public support, has nominated Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as their sole candidate for governor.

While nobody has formally opposed the royal candidate, some have suggested that another candidate be nominated to make the "election" more democratic in the spirit of reform.

The PPP has endorsed such a proposal and has nominated its Yogyakarta chapter chairman, Alfian Darmawan, for the post.

But even the mere candidacy of someone other than a royal descendent has been opposed by many who interpret a challenger, symbolic or real, as a threat to the special status accorded to Yogyakarta.

In appreciation of the ancient town's contribution to the country's independence struggle, the government declared Yogyakarta a special province on March 4, 1950 based on Law No. 3/1950, which strengthened a previous 1948 statute.

The special law granted the governorship of Yogyakarta to Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX.

Other provinces are governed by Law No. 5/1974, which stipulates that governors be elected by the provincial legislature for five-year terms with a maximum of two-terms.

The Golkar faction has argued that Yogyakarta's legal status requires the governor to be selected from one of the province's two aristocratic houses. The nomination and possible election of someone other than a royal family member, it said, could result in Yogyakarta losing its coveted status.

It had been widely perceived that the terms set out in the 1974 law pertaining to the provinces do not apply to Yogyakarta.

PPP appears to now be challenging this view.

"If we use Law No. 3/1950, then we recognize that there is a distinctive protocol in the selection of a governor in Yogyakarta," Khairudin said.

"If there is more than one candidate (other than Sri Sultan), then there would have to be an election, which means the special status would disappear," he added.

PPP legislator Herman Abdurrahman argued that the two initial laws on Yogyakarta were superseded by the 1974 statute.

"If two names have been forwarded, then let's vote... If only the Sultan is being forced as the sole candidate, then it would be undemocratic," Herman said.

So far, the only public expression of support for Alfian has come from PPP legislators themselves, while a crush of letters and rallies have rained down on the legislature in support of Sri Sultan.

Sri Sultan himself maintained that based on the initial laws, the governor is determined by the president on the recommendation of the two aristocratic houses -- the Yogyakarta Keraton (palace) and the Pura (palace) Paku Alaman.

He argued that if the 1974 law was used for the province, then all laws referring to Yogyakarta's special status should first be abolished. (23/44)