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SULTAN IN THE HISTORY OF TERNATE 1946-2002
Rustam Hasyim dan Mukhtar Yusup Pancasila and Civic Education program studies the University of Khairun Ternate
Abstract Politic participation of Ternate sultanate in local and national politic post independence to recent days brings important meaning to this writing. The reoccurance of past politic entity on that period explained as the wish of Ternate Sultanate to be more accomodated by means of institutional into formal government politic. Basically, this research is historical research concerning politic activities which is involving Sultanate by using historical method from heuristic to histography methods. This process requires analysis tools by using politics science concept to assist the extend study. The sources used in this research consisted of written and interview sources. This research conclude that politic participation of Sultanate in Ternate in local and national politic arena has experiencing tide and decrease as the impact of national politic system transformation. During President Soekarno era, Ternate Sultanate has opportunity in national politic field and the top of this opportunity is the appointment of Iskandar Djabir Syah, the 47th Ternate Sultanate, as Minister of Internal Affairs of East Indonesia State (NIT). In President Soeharto government period, the Sultanate elite is experiencing productivity by supporting Golkar Party. That support is able to bring them to manage their political career to become legislative members, academician, bureaucrats, politicians, press, and businessmen. Comes into reformation era, it presents wider space for Ternate Sultanate to express their existency and role. The arise of the 48th Ternate Sultan, Mudafar Syah, on his candidancy as Governor of North Maluku, as sultanate attempts in order to be constantly in its position as the authority holder in local domain, as their possession upon history claim and identity culture. The advantage of this research is capable to add and complete reference materials in Indonesian history documenting, particularly local history in North Maluku. This writing is expected to be able to give conteplation contribution for Ternate Sultanate elite and regional government in formulating political policies that are able to accomodate wider importance without according to certain ethnic importance.
Keywords: Political History, Ternate Sultanate, National and Local Politic.
Background (AAG Ari Dwipayana, 2004: 8). This paper investigates the fonomena The existence Sultanate of Ternate the return of the Sultan of Ternate in the since post independence until now shows arena of local politics after the that the Sultan of Ternate owns a independence of Indonesia in 1945. Before significant political role in every independence the territory of Indonesia, periodization of local political history in there are approximately 250 local self- Indonesia. During the reign of Sukarno governments and Suharto regime, the Sultans of Ternate (Zelbestuurendelandschappen). Most of had always struggled to survive againts the autonomous regions did not left any treat the crisis of being pressured by the spots (artifacts). Only a few of them still central government. They were able to exists politically such as Yogyakarta, maintain their position as a central Surakarta, Cirebon Sultanate, the Sultanate political role model amidst the fast social of Ternate and even some do some efforts changes. The endurance of the elites from to revive and reestablish through a new member of Sultanate does not only limited partnership under the umbrella of the to how they adapt to environmental Alliance of Sultans from the Archipelago. changes, but they also have been able to
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follow the rhythm of political dynamic by political elite, including the Sultanate of playing an important role in strenthening Ternate elite to compete locally. The Act their influence and determining the No. 22 of 1999 on regional autonomy direction and motion of these changes. symbolized the momentum of the rise of However, the political participation of elite Sultanate of Ternate, previously Sultan of Ternate at the national level did dominated by Soeharto’s government, to not always run smoothly. Differences in build a power which based on the sultan’s political ideology made them undergoing historical and cultural identity. The certain restrictions. The pressure and elevation of the power in post-New Order difficulties experienced by the previous led describes how people from the palace play the the later Sultan changed the political new roles to remain in his position local strategy by turning to support the arena as the most powerfull local people. government in other periods. Political In this case the emergence of elite from the reality show that when the Sukarno were local palace can be interpreted at least on in power, the elite Sultanate of Ternate three points: first, it is defined as the rise suffered "political restriction". The Sultan of feudal power in the region to strengthen Iskandar Djabir Shah opted to support the its political position which based on establishment of the State of East cultural construction of historical and Indonesia (NIT), initiated by Herbertus J. genealogical similarities. Second, the van Mook in 1946. This support individual rise of the Sultan Mudafar Syah, implicated his exile to Jakarta in 1950, for the Sultan of Ternate exercised the accusing as a federalist leader. However, charisma of the palace, and third, the the delegitimation of the Government of intention of the Sultan can not be separated Sukarno did not diminish the political from the desire of the Sultanate in various existence of the elite from the sultanate at regions in Indonesia for more the local level. The intervention of the institutionally accommodated into the central government did not affect the fall political stage of a formal power of power of elite palace. Culturally, the (Maryanto Tryatmoko, 2005: 86).Based on palace still wins the hearts of the people as the above background, the main problem the central model of communal life. focused on this paper is how the political The continuity of the political elite of strategy was taken by the Sultan Ternate in the sultanate remains after the fall of the maintaining his political existence as the Sukarno regime. The appearance of main people in local politics in the period Mudafar Shah as a replacement figure of 1946-2002. the previous sultan played a new role in Sultan of Ternate at Soekarno Era politics in North Maluku. His insistence to 1945-1966 recover the relationship with the central Politically, the proclamation of government was symbolized by his independence of the Republic of Indonesia support to support Golkar (government) as on August 17, 1945 is the birth of a unitary his base power. By doing this, he gained state, yet for the Sultanate of Ternate, this political empowerment during Suharto’s momentum is the beginning of the collapse regime. The fact shows, since his of feudalism institution. During this era, Inauguration as the 48th Sultan of Ternate ideological and political upheaval of the on November 29, 1976, Mudafar Syah nobles (traditional authority) was took a political decision to support the challenged by nationalist group. The Suharto government party (Golkar). glorious power inhereted by the noble The fall of the New Order regime in which had confronted with Dutch colonial 1998 and switched to the Reformation era power during the colonialization again even opened wider space for the local faced another new form of ideological
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power which endangered the position the van Mook in 1946, implicated to his exile palace. This new form of power sweept to Jakarta in 1950, for being accused as a away the local power and forced the federalist. His different views from the people to show their loyalty only to the central governemnet regarding the form state, not to the palace. This new and system of new Indonesian government ideological power also saparated public in post-independence Indonesia led him services and position according to the not to support any ruling parties during in modern governance. As a result, the theellection in 1955. This decision surely traditional positions was removed and did not give any benefits to them regarding changed into a new system. The Sultan did the position because they are forced to not directly become the governor of a confront both their political rivalry and province or a major of a regency, he has to national forces. go through political competion represented The confrontational attitude of Elites by political party. Since then the power is from Ternate palaces encouraged the not longer geneologically inhereted but President issued a number of policies to achieved through competition. limit their political roles, such as; First, the Historical fact shows the political elimination of kings council (executive participation elite Sultanate of Ternate in body), consisting of the Sultan of Ternate, the unitary state had started since the Tidore and Bacan and Noord Molukken beginning of the independence of the Raat (legislature) which supported Republic of Indonesia. This participation federalism in 1950. As a consequence, the was marked by the establishment of the sultanate had no longer a formal legal State of East Indonesia (NIT) on instrument in influencing local December 24, 1946. The establishment of government. Their control of the the State of East Indonesia became a bureaucracy was replaced by majors from political inspiration for Sultan Iskandar regents chosen by Parliament. Second, the Muhammad Jabir Shah (the 47th Sultan of elimination of the residency of Ternate and Ternate) to participate in the cogress as a the establishment of the North Maluku member of the senate representing the NIT regency levels, based on the law. No. 60 of North Maluku, and by involving in the 1958. Consequently, ruler at level of Malino conference and Denpasar as a regency was no longer have to be held by member of the senate representing North the Sultan and his family but was chosen Maluku as well as one disaigner of the through elections in the format of modern NIT. As a federalist who struggled to politics. The third implication is the birth figure out a form of a State of East of the Basic Agrarian Law 1960 on Indonesia both in the Malino conference restrictions of land ownership or the and in the Denpasar, in1949, Jabir takeover of land by the state against the Iskandar Shah was appointed as a Minister autonomous lands. of home affairs in the cabinet NIT J.E. During the reign of Sukarno, the Tatengkeng (27 December 1947-14 March Sultanate elite encountered political crisis. 1950). Their confrontational attitude by refusing Political reality shows that when the to support the Republic of Indonesia (GoI) Sukarno was in power, the elite of the and the government party (PNI) raises the Sultanate of Ternate faced political question why the President did not destroy limitations. The political decision of their political existence in the realm of Sultan Ternate 47th Djabir Iskandar Shah local politics in Ternate. Did some of the (1929-1975) in supporting the above political policies influence their establishment of the State of East existence in political struggle inTernate or Indonesia (NIT), initiated by Herbertus J. otherwise? In fact, although they
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experienced political restrictions, Even before becoming a Sultan, culturally this restriction did not give any Mudafar Syah had become functionaries of impact on the decline of the power elite of Golkar Party at the beginning of the the empire. This condtion was supported Soeharto government. This gave him a by one of the values entrenched in society chance to be a legislator at II level of local within Ternate that they uphold the word government during the elections in 1971. or the command of Sultan expressed in a By this support, he had legimited political local wisdom gauze jou semboyang Ngom power to contribute to the the devolopment Kage (where the Sultan is, there we are). of government in running their plocies. In In the culture of Ternate, the sultan is this case, by popular is given freedom and respected and obeyed because it is opportunity to choose policies offerred by believed to be inherited greatness and political parties in accordance with their authority that bring peace, justice and well political preferences, including choosing being. This also explains that peace, those deemed worthy performend those the justice and prosperity are key words that policies. put the noble are so important in the eyes Strategies used survavilitas elite of the people. Social relations are not Sultanate of Ternate support Golkar merely a patron-clein, but basically it memungkimkan awakening mutualistic reflects the cultural characteristics of relationship. The presence of some society that are specific to maintain the members of the nobility who occupied relationship between the community and structures in the palace and has their the leadership of the social traditions influence in the community utilized to Ternate. This is reflected in a saying which support programs of political parties, is still living within the community in including providing access to strategic Ternate "ino foma Makati nyinga, Doka positions in government. gosora se bualawa, om doro yes momote, Since the Sultanate of Ternate fo magogoru fo madudara" (let us take participated into Golkar Party, at the care each aother, like nutmeg and its fuli, beginning of the Suharto government, ripe together, fall together, based on love Golkar always always posed as a dominant and affection). party and won every election during the Sultanate of Ternate in the Suharto New Order era. If in the previous election government era 1966- 1998 (1955), Muslim parties dominate the vote Entering the New Order era, the like Masjumi (45 percent) and Parkindo national political map underwent (22 percent), in 197, government party, fundamental changes. Golkar, Suharto's Golkar, turned to win the majority, and political vehicle tried to work together islamic party became a dominated one. with the traditional powers in Indonesia. In With the support of the bureaucracy and this changing political constellation, the military networks, Golkar won the most Sultanate of Ternate took a political choice votes in the 1971 elections. by supporting Golkar. Since the In that period, the elite of the Inauguration of the 48th Sultan of Ternate, Sultanate did not just rely on what they on 29 November 1976, Mudafar Syah took believe that they are the center of a fad, political decision to support Suharto’s but also using the strategy to expand and government party (Golkar). This support is strengthen its power. understood as a strategy for In this case there are three survival accommodation and surviving amidst strategies used by elite empire to rebuild amidst the bouyant of power centralized the base power during the Suharto New Order government. government era. The first strategy is building alliance with the ruling party.
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Learning from the failure of political Third, in the economic arena. To decision, Mudafar Syah took the political survive economically, in addition to rely decision to support the Suharto on the land owned by the palace, elite government party (Golkar).This strategy sultanate’s job orientation was slighty had supported him to be a legislators at changes. During the period of Soekarno North Maluku district in 1977, a Golkar government, they simply absorbed within member of Parliament from 1982 to 1987, the government bureaucracy. However, in members of the Assembly of Soeharto government, besides there were Representatives from 1987 to 1992 and some still opting in state bureaucracy chairman of the Golkar DPD II North sector, some of them started to go into the Maluku district from 1992 to 1998. non bureaucratic or plunge into the world Through this party, he also was able to be of business, building relationships with the head of parliament of North Maluku external parties, particularly the business District from 1996 to 1999. This startegy elite with Chinese descendants, Javanese was not taken by the Sultan alone, the and Bugis Makassar traiders, as well as same startegy also was paleyd by several building relationships with the local elite of the archipelago. Through this government. As a result, the palace party, they organize his political career as received funds routinely from the a legislative member, academics, government to cover the household bureaucrats, politicians, journalists and expenses and reservation of the palace businessmen. These roles were never been buildings. experienced by elite in the Government of Elite Sultanate of Ternate in the the Sultanate of Sukarno. Reformation Era 1998-2002 Second, in the cultural arena, the elite The rise of Sultanate of Ternate in line Sultanate of Ternate has carried some with the new paradigm of regional ceremonies to revive ritual in the palace autonomy is interesting movement to such as Kololi Kie (ritual around the study. With the regulation of Law No.22 / island), Fere Kie (ritual mountain 1999, the state has given arecognition to climbing), and Legu Gam (sultan's the Sultanate’s original rights, and then has birthday). These palace rites intend to been utilized by the elite of the Sultanate shows the splendor of the sultanete of Ternate to build a base of authority over because it has been a source of cultural claims of historical and cultural origins. legitimacy that the palace has a magical The effort of Sultan of Ternate Mudafar power, sacred and a symbol of authority. Syah in the local political arena to revive In the same period, the elite sultanate also rituals and ceremonial custom is related expanding kinship network to give an the revivalisme of feodal symbols as honorary degree to the officials or former powerful political identities. This is part of officials of both central and local levels. strategy as an effort taken to keep the elite By using of this political kinship, all of the institutionally accommodated into the social and political elements officially political stage a formal government. became part of the relatives of the The implementation of Sultanate of Ternate. This condition, of decentralization has made local political course, has logical consequences both struggle is interesting to observe. One of economically, politically and culturally. the "product" of the reform is the devision This step is done as a political culture by of many regions in Indonesia into smaller making the palace as a center carrier, local govrenments. One of them is the preservation and cultural development devision of Maluku province into many center in the land of Ternate. new provinces. North Maluku is one division and become (the 27th province)
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under Law No. 46 years l999. The birth of a trigger in a conflict of the ellection of the the Act also seen as an opportunity to head of one region in North Maluku. realize the aspirations that had hampered Of the various problems in the due to political centralisation during New mentioned above, sultan political Order regime, namely the desire to own a partication looks so complex since North local leader agreed upon by the people. Maluku expansion into new provinces The main reason is that the "sons of the under Law No. 46/1999. There are some soil" during the period of the Soeharto important notes that need to be promoted. government never got the chance to lead First, the resurrection of the Sultanate of the region. Governors and Regents always Ternate had given serious impacts on local appointed by the Government in the democracy meaning. His participation capital, so that their policies were not which should have become one indiation rooted in local communities. of local democracy in fact has encouraged This historical experience has pushed the widespread of mass mobilization. As a elite of Sultanate to take part in the "local result, the competition was no longer movement" to demand the North Maluku rational to use the feudal forces. This province separation from the Moluccas. condition eventually worsened When the central government (the Habibie democratization at the local level. Rivalry government) responded by the the and competion then led to the formation of enactment of Law No. 46, 1999, the Sultan groups which based on memories of the of Ternate Mudafar Syah did not only part, ethnicity and even religion. became a symbol, but also he intend to Second, by partcipating in governor pose the the governor position. The candidacy, Sultan of Ternate in North resurrection of the Sultanate of Ternate Maluku governor tried all his efforts to elite post-New Order, according to Gerry empower himself by using his feoudal van Klinken was based on first, symbolic powers that were previously constrained revival of an entity that was torn down and by the dominance of the New Order left devastated at the Old Order and New government. Although Sultan Mudafar Order. Since the Old Order to the New Shah failed in his candidacy for Governor Order, the Sultanate of Ternate elite was of North Maluku, because it is not backed not an important part in the field of by the Golkar Party, it did not discourage government (executive) either in regency him to participate in political arena. His or in province. disappointment to Golkar Party was The formation of North Maluku expressed by showing his support and Province was in fact followed by the participation in National Democratic Party awakening of Ternate Sultanate. One of (PDK). PDK succesfully brought him to the implications of this condition is the Jakarta as a member of the house of effort of Sultan Mudafar Syah to representative in 2004-2009. reopening royal instruments in order to Third, the reform era, the political seek the legitimacy of the role of the strategy took the Sultanate of Ternate are Sultan. The competition between those more varied. They consist of political from the elite of non sultanate Ternate and parties and of strengthening and expansion those from non elite did not limit on the of the cultural politics of kinship networks. struggle for the interests of the new In addition, he participated in political resources, but also on social memory of a alliances through palaces Communication glorious past. The severe political interests Forum in Indonesia (FKKKI). and differences of interests in contesting CONCLUSION the sources of power of local level became This experiment proved that throughout its history, the Sultanate of Ternate elite had
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never lost its political legitimacy at the local level, and even at a certain period Malut Post, Ternate edisi 18 Agustus and the political context. Both the Sultan 1998, 23 September 1999 dan 9 were able to play a significant role at the Januari 2002. national level. As one of the traditional powers that are still alive since the Tabloid Parada, edisi 8, tahun 2002. beginning of independence until today, the existence of elite from Sultanate is Adnan Amal, Kepulauan Rempah- supported by custom. This partly gives the Rempah: Perjalanan Sejarah Maluku Sultan political position as a role model in Utara 1250 – 1950. Jakarta: Gora the center of the heart of community life Pustaka Indonesia, 2007. even though he stayed in the capital which is far away from the local region. The AA GN Ari Dwipayana, Bangsawan dan sustainability of Sultanate of Ternate elites Kuasa Kembalinya Para Ningrat di shows that their prevailing political role Dua Kota. Yogyakarta, IRE Press, does not only limit to how they adapt to 2004. environmental changes, but also they are Bambang Purwanto, “Memahami Kembali able to have a decisive influence on the Nasionalisme Indonesia”, dalam political activities both local and national Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Politik . levels. Volume 4 Nomor 3 Maret 2011. As a historical reality, the ability of Sultan to survive in the local politics was Djoko Suryo, et al. Agama dan Perubahan influenced by the belief of the people that Sosial Studi: Tentang Hubungan it is the noble who is geneologically Antara Islam, Masyarakat dan legitimate to rule Ternate. In the modern Struktur Sosial Politik Indonesia. era, this legitimacy is socialized through Yogyakata: UGM LKPSM. 2001. various ceremonies conducted by the palace. This continuous socialization in David Henley, et al., Adat Dalam Politik turn generates public believe regarding the Indonesia. Jakarta: Yayasan Obor advantages and privileges of the nobility. Indonesia, 2010. Thus it generates a sense of obedience and inner peace as well as social welfare. As a Gerry van Klinken, Perang Kota Kecil central role model manifested in the Kekerasan Komunal dan government and bureaucracy in Ternate, Demokratisasi di Indonesia. Jakarta: the noble occupy important positions in KITLV, 2007. local government structures in the city of Ternate. Henk Schulte Nordholt et.al., (ed), Politik Lokal di Indonesia. Jakarta: KITLV, REFERENCES 2007. Newspapers and Books Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung, Negara Indonesia Timoer: Makasar, 7 Pebruari. 1 Indonesia Timur Ke Republik dan 27 Desember 1947. Indonesia Serikat. Yogkarta; UGM Press, 1985. Soeloeh Rakyat, Makasar 13 September 1947. Irza Arnita Djafaar, Dari Moloku Kie Raha Ke Negara Federal: Biografi Sultan Negara Baroe: Makasar 13 Pebruari, 4 Iskandar Muhammad Jabir Syah. Maret 1948. Jakarta Bio Pustaka, 2005.
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R. Nalenan, Arnold Mononutu Potret Maryanto Wahyu Tryatmoko, Seorang Patriot. Jakarta: Gubung “Pemekaran Wilayah dan Pertarungan Agung, 1981. Elite Lokal di Maluku Utara, dalam Jurnal LIPI Jilid XXXI, No 1, 2005. R.Z. Leirissa, Maluku Dalam Perjuangan Nasional Indonesia. Jakarta: Lembaga Mudaffar Syah, Eksistensi Kesultanan Sejarah Fakultas Sastra UI 1975. Ternate dalam Sistem Tatanegara Republik Indonesia. Ternate : Goheba, Sartono Kartodirdjo, ed. Elite dalam 2009. Perspektif Sejarah. Jakarta: LP3ES, 1981. Nurhasim Muchtar, et. al, Konflik Antar Elit Lokal dalam Pemelihan Kepala Suhartono W. Pranoto, Teori dan Daerah: Kasus Maluku Utara, Jawa Metodologi Sejarah. Yogyakarta: Timur dan Kalimantan Tengah. Graha Ilmu, 2010. Jakarta: LIPI, 2003. Siti Zuhro, et.al, Demokrasi Lokal Purwo Santoso “Merajut Kohesi Nasional: Perubahan dan Kesinambungan Nilai- Etno-nasionalisme dan Otonomi nilai Budaya Politik Lokal di Jawa daerah” dalam Jurnal Ilmu Sosial da Timur, Sumatera Barat, Sulawesi Ilmu Politik. Vol. 4, No 3, Maret Selatan dan Bali. Yogyakarta: 2001. Ombak, 2009.