ANOTHER figure preparing to join the 2009 General Elections is Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. Though he has made no official statement yet, there are apparent signs. One of them is the reluctance of the Sultan to be reelected as Governor of Yogyakarta—a position he has occupied for three terms.

His “political safari” is another indication. After Friday prayers last week, the Sultan visited the House of Representatives (DPR), which was debat