SULTAN OF TERNATE AS NORTH MALUKU MEDIATOR

UNCLAS SURABAYA 000014 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ID SUBJECT: SULTAN OF TERNATE AS NORTH MALUKU MEDIATOR REF: A. 07 SURABAYA 59 ¶B. 07 JAKARTA 3121 ¶C. 07 JAKARTA 3224 ¶D. 07 JAKARTA 3236 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Sultan of Ternate positioned himself as the mediator of the continuing North Maluku gubernatorial dispute during a January 25 meeting with Surabaya Principal Officer. Ternate, the capital of North Maluku, was calm after the January 23 Supreme Court ruling that supported former Governor Thaib Armaiyn's re-election as Governor. The Sultan combines his 40-year royal tenure with his democratically elected seat in the national Parliament to wield significant authority and influence in North Maluku. End summary. -------------- -------------- North Maluku Election Saga Continues; Thaib Gains Ground -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) On January 23, the Supreme Court ruled that the North Maluku Election Commission -- not the National Election Commission -- had jurisdiction to determine the winner of the disputed North Maluku gubernatorial election. The Supreme Court decision generated only minor protests in Ternate, but no violence or unrest was apparent during our January 23-25 visit. On November 16, the North Maluku Election Commission ruled that Thaib Armaiyn won the North Maluku governorship; however, the National Election Commission ruled on November 22 that Golkar-supported Abdul Gafur won the flawed election (see reftels). This election saga is not complete as the National Election Committee vowed to file judicial review at the Supreme Court. Timbul Sugianta is currently the Acting Governor. Thaib Armaiyn is supported by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National Awakening Party (PKB),the Democratic Party (PD),and the Crescent Star Party (PBB). Thaib is accused by local NGOs of corruption totaling Rp 54 billion ($6 million) during his previous tenure as North Maluku governor. Abdul Gafur, a former Suharto-era minister, is supported by Golkar and the National Mandate Party (PAN). -------------- The Sultan of Ternate: The Royal Democrat -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Sultan of Ternate combines imperial authority through his role as Sultan with the democratic credential of serving as one of four North Maluku MPs in the national parliament. A self-declared "Sultan of the people," Haji Mudzhaffar Shah II acknowledged his limited authority and symbolic function as Sultan of Ternate. However, he also framed his authority as Sultan as a power given to him by the people, noting that the people could remove him from power if they protested his rule. The Sultan described his reign as a "different form of democracy," stating that Ternate has practiced decentralization for over 800 years with the Sultanate holding significant power as local authority. -------------- The Sultan as Peacemeaker -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Sultan also promoted himself as the gatekeeper of North Maluku for economic and political affairs. The Sultan said that his permission was a pre-requisite for doing business in the region. He also presented himself as the most effective peacemaker of the ongoing gubernatorial election. The North Maluku Election Commission had denied his attempt to register as a candidate for last November's election, sparking demonstrations from his followers. He described the gubernatorial candidates as waiting in limbo, explicitly stating that he alone could resolve the matter. The Sultan's proposed answer to the electoral strife hinged on his ability to run in a new round of elections, which he fully expected to win, but which do not have any legal basis to occur. He said supported a strong military and police role in North Maluku. Although the Sultan will likely not be the next North Maluku governor, his societal position and access to resources gives him a strong position to influence the election and overall political environment in North Maluku. MCCLELLAND