Sultan at UGM Campus

Sultan supporters gather at UGM campus

Tue, 02/03/2009 3:40 PM | The Archipelago

YOGYAKARTA: Thousands of people from across Java gathered in Yogyakarta on Monday to show support for presidential candidate Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. Hamengkubuwono's supporters, grouped under Merti Nusantara, gathered at the Gadjah Mada University campus. Addressing the gathering, Hamengkubuwono said he was an alternative candidate.

"If you are all happy with the current situation, you can choose the incumbent. But if you all want change, please choose an alternative candidate," he said.

After the speech, the supporters traveled in a convoy of 50 buses to visit the graves of the Mataram kings in Imogiri. The Mataram kingdom predates the Yogyakarta and Surakarta kingdoms. "I'm praying for the Sultan that he will be elected president," said Bambang Sulistyo, who traveled to Yogyakarta from Banten. - JP