Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of lawmaking "Syuriyah" body of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi advised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to upset Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X because doing so would only arouse a negative sentiment among the special region's people.
"SBY (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) had better not do anything to the Sultan, not even through a judicial process although the government has the right to do so because it would only cause a backlash for SBY as reflected in the emotional statements by Yogyakarta people," Hasyim said.
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Moreover, calls for a referendum in Yogyakarta were intensifying , he said.
"If the calls for a referendum continue, it will affect the nation's political life," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
Hasyim said the government had better keep the present government in Yogyakarta as it is to reflect the region's special status.
Under the present system, the Sultan of Yogyakarta would automatically remain the region's governor.
Hasyim said it was not a problem if the governor of Yogyakarta was not elected and this also did not automatically mean that the government of Yogyakarta was a monarchy.
"It is not only about historical factors and the contribution of the Yogyakarta sultanate to the Republic of Indonesia but it is also a fact that the Sultan governs Yogyakarta along with the regional legislative assembly whose members are elected directly by the people and together with the Sultan are responsible to the central government. Therefore, it is not at all like a monarchy," he said.
The status of Yogyakarta's special region came into the limelight after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before a cabinet meeting on November 26 stated that no monarchy system was allowed in Indonesia because it is against the country's constitution and democratic values.
Sultan Hamengku Buwono X questioned the statement saying that the government in Yogyakarta had been carried out like in other provinces.
Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi here on Wednesday said that the president's statement had been misunderstood by some quarters.
He said the President at the time only introduced three aspects that needed to be given attention with regard to the discussion on the bill on the special status of Yogyakarta province, namely monarchy, democratic values and constitution. (dar)
Chairman of lawmaking "Syuriyah" body of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi advised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to upset Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X because doing so would only arouse a negative sentiment among the special region's people.
"SBY (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) had better not do anything to the Sultan, not even through a judicial process although the government has the right to do so because it would only cause a backlash for SBY as reflected in the emotional statements by Yogyakarta people," Hasyim said.
>
Moreover, calls for a referendum in Yogyakarta were intensifying , he said.
"If the calls for a referendum continue, it will affect the nation's political life," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
Hasyim said the government had better keep the present government in Yogyakarta as it is to reflect the region's special status.
Under the present system, the Sultan of Yogyakarta would automatically remain the region's governor.
Hasyim said it was not a problem if the governor of Yogyakarta was not elected and this also did not automatically mean that the government of Yogyakarta was a monarchy.
"It is not only about historical factors and the contribution of the Yogyakarta sultanate to the Republic of Indonesia but it is also a fact that the Sultan governs Yogyakarta along with the regional legislative assembly whose members are elected directly by the people and together with the Sultan are responsible to the central government. Therefore, it is not at all like a monarchy," he said.
The status of Yogyakarta's special region came into the limelight after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before a cabinet meeting on November 26 stated that no monarchy system was allowed in Indonesia because it is against the country's constitution and democratic values.
Sultan Hamengku Buwono X questioned the statement saying that the government in Yogyakarta had been carried out like in other provinces.
Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi here on Wednesday said that the president's statement had been misunderstood by some quarters.
He said the President at the time only introduced three aspects that needed to be given attention with regard to the discussion on the bill on the special status of Yogyakarta province, namely monarchy, democratic values and constitution. (dar)
