Sustainability of Monarchy in the Era of Democracy
The continuation of authentic monarchy in DIY does not eliminate democracy. Waiting for the role of the DIY monarchy in the national interest.
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In the midst of the current post-election turmoil, which has made some people pessimistic about the sustainability of our democracy, the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) is actually enthusiastic about the sustainability of its monarchy. The local government and DPRD have just designated March 13 as DIY Anniversary, which refers to the date of the proclamation of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate by Sultan Hamengku Buwono I on March 13, 1755.
The determination of this date means that DIY Specialties has existed since the founding of the kingdom. This is reinforced by the historical fact that during the colonial period, the Dutch recognized Yogyakarta Sultanate as a special area (special gebied). During its occupation of Indonesia, Japan also recognized the existence of Nagari Yogyakarta as a separate kingdom (koti).
Law Number 13 of 2012 regarding the Special Status of Yogyakarta affirms the sustainability of the monarchy in the era of democracy in Yogyakarta. The Sultan and Duke who hold the throne automatically become the Governor and Deputy Governor. The long and arduous process involving the struggle of the people until the ratification of the law shows that the people of Yogyakarta desire the continuity of the monarchy in the era of democracy.
Also read: History of Yogyakarta Special Regulations
Local interests
For the context of DIY, the sustainability of monarchy within a historical and constitutional democracy system. After joining RI, President Soekarno issued a "Position Charter" (August 19, 1945), which essentially supported the continuity of monarchic leadership in Yogyakarta.
Sultan HB IX and Paku Alam VIII then confirmed their leadership in DIY in the Mandate of September 5 1945 which became the embryo of the legal status of DIY Specialty (Sujamto, 1988). Constitutional strengthening of the continuity of the Yogyakarta monarchy then occurred through Law Number 3 of 1950 concerning the Establishment of DIY, which decades later was updated and upgraded in the 2012 UUK.
The people of DIY's desire for the sustainability of monarchy in the era of democracy has been put to the test and considered final. After the Reform era of 1998, the people held a coronation ceremony for the Sultan and Paku Alam, who were appointed as the Governor and Deputy Governor of DIY, and wanted this mechanism to become the basis for DIY's special privileges.
The concept was continuously fought for until the UUK 2012 was finally ratified. The people's struggle at that time was very difficult because the central (national) government did not immediately agree as the concept was considered to be against democracy.
The Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, appointed the village heads in Kulon Progo Regency as the holders of special privileges on Monday (27/1/2020) at the DIY Governor's Office complex in Yogyakarta City.
Now, after 12 years of the Special Province of Yogyakarta's implementation (2012-2024), the sustainability of monarchy in the era of democracy in Yogyakarta is further strengthened by the establishment of Yogyakarta Anniversary. This determination came after a long struggle. The Yogyakarta Anniversary draft regulation had not been fully discussed in the Regional People's Representatives Council (DPRD) during the 2014-2019 period. It was only in the 2019-2024 period that it was successfully passed into the Yogyakarta Provincial Regulation Number 2 of 2024.
The people of the DIY (Special Region of Yogyakarta) are already firm in their choice and even become sensitive when the special status of DIY is disturbed. For example, when academician Ade Armando criticized the Yogyakarta monarchy by likening it to the practice of "dynastic politics," elements of the DIY community immediately rose up against it.
The increasingly educated community can distinguish between the authentic sustainability of the monarchy in Yogyakarta and the phenomenon of "monarchization" that is happening in the political arena and democratic practices today.
Now, after 12 years of UUK implementation (2012-2024), the sustainability of monarchy in the era of democracy in DIY is further strengthened with the establishment of DIY's anniversary.
The question is how long will the people of DIY accept, support, feel stable, and even be proud of the continuation of the monarchy in the democratic era? The key word is benefit or usefulness (migunani).
In this regard, the 2012 Special Region of Yogyakarta Law emphasizes the usefulness for the interests of the community. Article 5 of the law states that the purpose of regulating the Special Status of Yogyakarta (which features the sustainability of monarchy in the era of democracy) is to realize the welfare and tranquility of the people.
This article emphasizes taking sides with the interests of the people. This is in line with the long-standing concept of the Yogyakarta monarchy, that the king must create a prosperous, prosperous, safe and peaceful life for the people (gemah ripah loh jinawi tata titi tentrem kerta raharja).
Sultan HB IX (1912-1988) emphasized his commitment to the people in the concept of "throne for the people". When he ascended the throne in 1989, Sultan HB X continued his father's leadership vision with the concept of "throne for the welfare of the people".
Also read: Respond to Ade Armando, Sultan HB
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The special symbol of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, namely the Ngayogyakarta Palace, Monday (28/5/2018).
National interests
History has recorded that the continuation of the monarchy in the democratic era in DIY is beneficial (migunani) for the national interest. Not long after RI was born, DIY became an "incubator" that saved the "baby RI" from a critical period. Recognition of sovereignty was obtained after Yogyakarta became the capital of the Republic of Indonesia (1946-1949). Slamet Sutrisno (2008) likens Yogya to "the babysitting mother of Indonesia".
According to Sudomo Sunaryo in the book "Travel Notes of Yogya Specialties" (2010), after RI became a teenager who began to be able to walk swiftly, he almost disobeyed his mother. During the process of drafting the bill on regional government in 1974, the DIY privilege was almost removed on the grounds that the New Order regime wanted to make regional governments uniform.
Later in life, her mother played an important role in helping to roll out the 1998 National Reform Movement. On May 20, 1998, a million Yogya residents carried out people power known as "Pisowanan Ageng". The people together with Sultan HB X and Paku Alam VIII at that time expressed a firm stance against the regime and fully supported reform. The day after, the ruler stepped down.
The ”monarchy-like” political behavior in the era of democracy actually undermines the authenticity and credibility of the monarchy, not only in Yogyakarta but throughout the archipelago.
These days, the aging child's soul is experiencing a kind of "disorientation" disorder. Their awareness of time and place is disrupted, so they do not know their own identity and the people around them.
Nowadays, when the Republic of Indonesia should use a democratic system, it instead mixes it with "monarchy" actions and behavior with practices such as dynastic politics, acute nepotism, hegemonic patron-client relations, and so on. . By the standards of democracy in the context of today's time and place, such actions and behavior clearly violate ethics, morals and also the constitution.
The political behavior of "monarchism" in the era of democracy actually disrespects the authenticity and credibility of the monarchy, which is not only a historical legacy in Yogyakarta but in the entire archipelago. Majapahit, Sriwijaya, Mataram, and others are authentic monarchies that have proven successful for hundreds of years, compared to the Republic of Indonesia, which has not yet reached a century of age.
Also read: Yogyakarta, a Special Region with a Special Role
The sustainability of authentic monarchy in Yogyakarta Special Region has been proven not to eliminate democracy. In fact, in 2022, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Yogyakarta achieved the highest score (85.62 points) in the Indonesian Democracy Index (IDI). Meanwhile, the practice of "monarchization" clearly harms democracy.
Now we are waiting for the mother's role to straighten out her child's stumbling path. To this day, it has become a tradition for leaders and leadership candidates in this country to go to Kraron Yogyakarta to ask for blessings. This is actually a recognition of the continuity of authentic monarchy in the era of modern democracy.
This should be utilized as an opportunity for authentic monarchy to provide criticism, feedback, suggestions, and reprimands to the leaders (rulers) of modern democracy. Therefore, the continuity of monarchy in the era of democracy in DIY is beneficial for national interests.
Haryadi Baskoro, National Resilience and Development Forum; Anthropologist-Theologian
Haryadi Baskoro
