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Hamengkubuwono X fires warning in succession issue
Hear ye, hear ye: Journalists take photos of the sabdotomo (a royal decree) at the Kencana hall in Yogyakarta Palace on Friday
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span class="caption">Hear ye, hear ye: Journalists take photos of the sabdotomo (a royal decree) at the Kencana hall in Yogyakarta Palace on Friday. Governor Hamengkubuwono, also the sultan of Yogyakarta, issued the sabdotomo on the royal succession and warned against outside interference. JP/ Tako Sudiarno
Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono X issued a sabdotomo (royal decree) on Friday, hinting at some of the qualities his successor must possess and warning all parties not to interfere in his succession.
'No one can decide on or talk about Mataram [Yogyakarta], especially its rules and governance. Only the sultan can do so,' said Hamengkubuwono, who is also the sultan of Yogyakarta.
The sabdotomo comprises eight points and has been issued in response to deliberations in the Yogyakarta Legislative Council (DPRD I) on a special draft bylaw regarding filling the posts of governor and deputy governor.
Deliberations have continued since early February and councilors have not agreed on whether governor and deputy governor candidates should both be male, as implied in Article 18 of Law No. 13/2012 on Yogyakarta's special status.
Article 18 (c) of the same law also states that the governor and deputy governor candidates are the ruling sultan of Yogyakarta and duke of Pakualaman principality, respectively.
This is also considered to imply that both candidates must be male.
Pakualaman is a subordinate royal enclave in Yogyakarta. The position of Yogyakarta governor is held by the Yogyakarta sultan, while the deputy governor post is reserved for the duke of Pakualaman.
Sixty eight-year-old Hamengkubuwono, whose five children are all female, once described elements of Law No. 13/2012 as discriminative and said the heirs of Yogyakarta Palace could be both men and women.
In Friday's sabdotomo, Hamengkubuwono spoke only of the character that his successor must possess.
He said his successor had to be willing to have a strong relationship with nature as well as be someone that others would listen to and follow. In addition, the individual must understand his or her true identity and origin.
'The sabdotomo can be used to deliberate anything, including palace rules, just like the state uses laws,' the governor said.
Hamengkubuwono's younger brother, Gusti Bendoro Pangeran Haryo Prabukusumo, said the sabdotomo had been an impromptu move.
Prabukusumo said the governor's message was that not anyone could lead Yogyakarta Palace and that the relevant families had been asked not to comment on the succession.
'This is to respond to the issue [of having to meet certain requirements to be a Yogyakarta governor candidate],' he said.
Yogyakarta DPRD I special committee (Pansus) chairman Slamet said the deliberation of the draft bylaw would be extended for 20 days.
He said the deliberation was sensitive as it was an issue connected to the palace's succession.
'The Pansus has been helped by the fact that [the governor] has affirmed that the succession is an internal palace matter. The sabdotomo can help cool down the situation,' Slamet said.
