The five are Arisman, 61, Cipto Suwarno, 58, Sarjio, 41, Ratna Wuriyaningsih, 35, and Subardi, 35.
Before setting out on the circa 455-kilometer journey to the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, they first held prayer in front of the Gedung Agung Presidential Palace on Jl. Malioboro.
Wearing clothes emblazoned with a picture of the Sultan and “Sultan for President”, the small group began a journey that will trace the route taken by Sultan Agung when he marched with his army to Batavia to overthrow Dutch colonial rule from 1628-1629.
Sultan Agung was the greatest king of the Islamic Mataram kingdom, which was later divided by the Dutch into the Yogyakarta and Surakarta sultanates as well as Pakualam and Mangkunegara principalities.
“We conduct this spiritual journey to respect and to support Ngarso Dalem (the Sultan) who has stated his intention to run for presidency in 2009,” said Arisman, adding that they would pass Wates, Purworejo, Kutoarjo, Kebumen, Gombong, Purwokerto and Brebes in Central Java as well as Cirebon, Cikampek and Bekasi in West Java before arriving in Jakarta.
During the journey, Arisman said, they would hold prayers in the hope that Sultan would pass selection to become presidential candidate and later win the election.
So far, no major parties have declared their support for the Sultan’s candidacy.
The pilgrimage is forecast to last 24 days, with the five arriving in Jakarta on Jan. 4, to signify the temporary transfer of the capital of Indonesia from Jakarta to Yogyakarta in 1946.
Slamet Susanto , The Jakarta Post , Yogyakarta | Fri, 12/12/2008 10:43 AM | The Archipelago
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