Wali Negara of Pasundan

The Wali Negara of Pasundan (literally 'State Guardian', Indonesian: Wali Negara Pasundan) was the head of state and the highest political office in the short-lived State of Pasundan (1948-1950).

Wali Negara of Pasundan
Coat of arms of the Wali Negara
Last officeholder Wiranatakusumah V 24 April 1948 – 10 February 1950
Style	Paduka Yang Mulia
Reports to	Parliament of Pasundan
Residence	Pakuan Building
Seat	Bandung
Appointer	Direct popular election
Term length	4 years
Constituting instrument	Regulations of the Constitutional Organization of Pasundan
Inaugural holder	Wiranatakusumah V
Formation	24 April 1948 (1948-04-24)
Abolished	10 February 1950 (1950-02-10)
Succession	Governor of West Java
Deputy	Speaker of the Parliament

According to the Regulations of the Constitutional Organization of Pasundan, the Wali Negara has the authority to dissolve the Parliament, appoint and discharge the Prime Minister, enact decrees, and submit law drafts and the state budget to the Parliament.

If the Wali Negara dies or resigns prior to the end of the term, the Speaker of the Parliament, who also acts as the Deputy Wali Negara, replaces his position.

History

Election

The first election to the position of Wali Negara was held on 4 March 1948, during the Third West Java Conference. There were two candidates comepting in this election, nominated by different factions between the delegates. Wiranatakusumah V, former Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, was nominated by the unitary faction, while Hilman Djajadiningrat, former Regent of Sukabumi, was nominated by the federalist faction. Wiranatakusumah won the election by 54 to 46 votes.[1] The Speaker of the Parliament, Djuarsa, broadcast the results of the election to the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, and stated that Wiranatakusumah has a week to accept his election.[2]

Even though the Republic of Indonesia government consider the election undemocratic, Wiranatakusumah was given permission by the Indonesian government to accept his election. Thus, the government of Pasundan send a group of three, consisted of Soejoso, Adil Puradiredja, and Thung Jie Leh, to Jogjakarta and escort Wiranatakusumah to the State of Pasundan.[2]

Although initially Wiranatakusumah went against the formation of the State of Pasundan, he and the Indonesia government accepted it because considering that it was better for the position to fall on someone pro-Indonesian rather than falling to pro-Dutch people such as Hilman. Masjkur, the Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, stated that the "victory of Wiranatakusumah in the State of Pasundan is also the victory of the Republic of Indonesia".[3] His position as the Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council of Indonesia was relieved, and was given to Ario Soerjo.[1]

Arrival

On 19 March 1948, Wiranatakusumah finally arrived in the Andir Airfield (now Husein Sastranegara International Airport) in Bandung. He was greeted by the populace of the State of Pasundan. Unexpectedly, a rousing welcome accompanied by a cry of Merdeka (which was an Indonesian salute) prompted the Dutch to arrest several teachers and students who were thought to be responsible for these cry.[4]

Inauguration

The inauguration of Wiranatakusumah was done on 24 April 1948. The inauguration was attended by the Lieutenant Governor General of the Dutch East Indies, Hubertus van Mook, the General Secretary of the Provisional Federal Government, Abdul Kadir Widjojoatmodjo, and the head of the Recomba (transitional government) of West Java, Hilman Djajadiningrat.[5]

Resignation

After the formation of the United States of Indonesia, there war a growing demand by the Pasundan populace to dissolve the state. On 10 February 1950, located at the Pakuan building, the residence of the Wali Negara, Wiranatakusumah, represented by his deputy, Djuarsa, handed over his power as the Wali Negara of Pasundan to the Commisary of the United States of Indonesia for West Java, Sewaka.[6]

Selection process

Eligibility

In order to be able to run for office, a candidate must be an Indonesian citizen by birth that is over thirty years old. The candidate must also reside within the state for five years. The provisions are set down in Article 30 of the Regulations of the Constitutional Organization of Pasundan.[7]

Election

Elections for Wali Negara occur every four years by a national vote. The previous Wali Negara shall deemed eligible for reelection after his period has elapsed. The Wali Negara resigns after his successor took office.[7]

Powers and duties

Article 34 to 39, Article 42, 49, 51, 52, 54, 55, 62, 80, and 81 regulates the power and duties that are rested within the Wali Negara.

According to the Regulations of the Constitutional Organization of Pasundan, the Wali Negara has the duty to represent the state in private affairs. The Wali Negara can appoint attorneys to represent himself in the affairs. The Wali Negara could also dissolve the Parliament of Pasundan with a decree. The decree should specify the date of the election for the new parliament, which took place within two months from the day of the dissolution.[8] He also appoints– and can dismiss– the Prime ministers, the ministers and the other members of the Government.[9]

The Wali Negara has the right to submit bills and decrees, which then would be enacted with the consultation of the parliament. The laws that enacted these bills and decrees has the name of State Orders, and issued by the Wali Negara.[10] The State Orders must be signed by the responsible minister and the Minister of Justice.[11] The Wali Negara must also submit the draft state budget to the Parliament before 15 September each year and the draft must be returned by the Parliament to the Wali Negara, complete with its approval to the draft state budget, before 15 December each year. The enactment of the budget must be done by a Wali Negara decree.[12]

Regarding to the regional administration of the State of Pasundan, the Wali Negara has the right to divide or merge regencies and municipalities in the State of Pasundan. The division and merging of the regencies and municipalities should be in line with the will of the populace.[13]

Oath of office

Before taking office, the Wali-Negara shall be sworn in by the Speaker of the Parliament, in a public session of the Parliament, the oath, reading as follows:[8]

I swear (solemnly declare) that, to be elected as the Wali-Negara, I have not given or premised nor shall give anything to anybody whomsoever, either directly or indirectly under whatever name or pretext.
I swear (solemnly promise) that, to do or omit doing anything in the discharge of m;r duties as Wali Negara, I shall not accept any promise or any present from anybody whomsoever, either directly or indirectly.
I swear (solemnly promise) that I shall respect the legal provisions applicable to the State and protect the general and special freedoms and rights of all inhabitants of the State and, for the maintenance and promotion of general and special prosperity, use all the means which the laws and other regulations place at my disposal, in such a way as befits a good Head of the State.
So help me God!
(This I do solemnly declare and promise).

Line of succession

In case of the incapacity, death, or resignation, of the Wali Negara, the Deputy Wali Negara, which acts as the Speaker of the Parliament, shall assume his position. The First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament shall assume the position of the Deputy Wali Negara/Speaker of the Parliament. If the Speaker of the Parliament — which in this case is the Wali Negara — was unable to fulfill the position, than the First Deputy Speaker shall assume his position, and the Second Deputy Speaker should replace him. The same goes with the Third Deputy Speaker.[9]

List of Wali Negara of Pasundan

Portrait		Name (birth and death)	Term of office		Deputy	Prime Ministers		Duration
1		Wiranatakusumah V (1888-1965)	24 April 1948	10 February 1950	Djuarsa		Adil Puradiredja	1 year, 292 days
							Djumhana Wiriaatmadja
							Anwar Tjokroaminoto

Bibliography

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (December 1948), Indonesië in de Veiligheidsraad van de Verenigde Naties, Den Haag: Staatsdrukkerij
• Helius, Sjamsuddin; Ekadjati, Edi S.; Marlina, Kuswiah; Wiwi, Ietje (1992), Menuju Negara Kesatuan: Negara Pasundan, Jakarta: Ministry of Education and Culture
• Parliament of Pasundan (1949), Risalah Tahun 1948 - 1949 Parlemen Pasundan, Bandung: Drukkerij Mascotte

References

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 54
2. Helius et al. 1992, p. 52
3. Helius et al. 1992, p. 55
4. Helius et al. 1992, p. 56
5. Parliament of Pasundan 1949, p. 20
6. Helius et al. 1992, p. 80
7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 81
8. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 82
9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 83
10. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 86
11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 88
12. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 90
13. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1948, p. 85