Friday, May 15, 2009

Rat Umis Abdul Hakim Achmad Aituarauw of Kaimana


Raja Abdul Hakim Ac. Aituarauw gelar Rat Sran Rat Umisi Aituarauw of Kaimana in present time


Kaimana is one of the 9 principality like areas of the Bomberai peninsula area of Papua.
Originally Kaimana was a part of Namatota (Namatotte) principality, but slowly but surely became effectively an area on it's own.
Kaimana must have been already ca. 5 centuries an area on it's own.Some centuries ago it merged with Namatota. Namatota is the Papua principality lying in the east of the above called area.
Namatota had more minor rajas under it's rule.
When Kaimana was still an independent area, it was ruled from Adi island, but later they went to Kaimana area proper and called itself Kaimana Lamora.
Ca. at the end of the 19th century the last Raja of Adi (succesor to the raja of Kaimana Lamora) had died,but in the extensive area of the Namatota principality there was a need for representatives sometimes.Now the need was felt in the area, which is later called as Kaimana.
Ca. 1898 a sub-raja was installed with name NaroE. The dynasty now claims, that he was actually descendant of the rulers,who always had ruled Kaimana.
Such a ruler was actually called Raja Komisi,but locally they called him Rat Umis.
The last Rat Umis in Dutch colonial time was Rat Umis Achmad Muhammad Aituarauw.
First he lived in kaimana town, but to go a bit away from the pressing influence of his suzerain he made a new residence on the Kilimala island somewhere in the 1930-ies.
This ruler was known as a quite cunning man, with so much influence in Namatota,that the Dutch were seriously thinking of replacing him by another ruler to try to reestablish the power equilibre here after World War II. That was never done however.
The Rajas of Namatota and the Rats Umis of Kaimana were also quite influential in the Arguni bay area in the north of the area,but later that remained more or less a nominal influence only.
Most of all these rulers in the Bomberai/Onin area were trader dynasties, who had more interest in trade,than real rule as it was known in the west.
So the Dutch were not always fully satisfied with the intermediary function they had between the Dutch Government and the more inland living peoples.
When the last Rat Umis of the Dutch time died in 1966, his son Muhammad Achmad Aituarauw was then already a respected government official. He was made officially the Rat Umis then, but gave the day to day monarchistic rule, or functioning to his brother Muhammad Saleh Aituarauw, who was only recognized as Regent-Rat Umis.
The present monarch of Kaimana; Rat Umis Abdul Hakim Achmad Aituarauw, S.Sos; a well-know politician;is the son of Rat Umis Muhammad Achmad Aituarauw.
This ruling family was always full of ruling ambitions. So is a certain Drs. Achmad Hassan Aituarauw the present Bupati, or Districtchief of an area, which also bears the name Kaimana and the cousin of the Rat Umis(son of the former Regent) Haji Arobi Achmad Aituarauw was in 2006 a candidate for the governorship of the province of Papua. (He became 2nd).
Nowadays the Onin, or Bomberai area rajas are espacially very important in being the representatives of their area concerning the rights the local people have in protecting the ecological system of their areas.
The radjas of Namatota and the rats umis of Kaimana were not always so at the top of their power, but the people always respected them as the at least symbolic representatives of their areas to the outside world.
Or:focussing on your own local identity.
The Onin rajas were before represented to the outside world by the Raja of Rumbati and these had to make political dealings with the Raja of Misool in the Raja Ampat islands(west of Onin area),who was the representative of both areas for the N.-Moluccan sultan of Tidore,who was the suzerain of this area.
Some said before, that the power of the 9 monarchs of the Onin-area was nearly gone, but nowadays they are returning back strongly: for instance as fatherly representatives of their respective areas and keepers of the local customs and history.
This is another example,that political functioning of rulers can hardly be predicted for the full 100%.

With thanks to the Aituarauw ruling family for using the picture of the present Rat Umis, to be found as well on their own website at
http://aituarauw-kaimana.blogspot.com


D.P. Tick gRMK (research)
I. Festivana (design/website maintaining)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The political resurrection of the King of Ternate


DP Tick* Articles :

Indonesian politics is still unpredictable and that it makes it also quite interesting.

One of the big surprises of the last time is the sudden political resurrection of the Sultan of Ternate in the N-Moluccans.
This king with complete name:Sultan Drs. Mudafar II Syah Masjur Kamo Lano (usually known as Sultan Mudafar II Syah) won in the last april election for the national parliament a seat as a senator. A part of this parliament is made up of representatives special of their area and the people of a part of the area of the so-called Kesultanan Ternate, where the sultan stood candidate, choose him as their wished candidate to represent their needs and further things of their lives in the national parliament.
Since 1999 the Sultan of Ternate experienced some political problems. Then the N-Moluccan province was being shaped and some blame him for being to ambitious in that process. After the reinstallment of the structure Moloku Kie Raha (N-Moluccans to be seen as the area of the 4 kingdoms) the situation went slowly but surely more better in the Moluccans. In 2001 Sultan Abdullah Syah was installed as new sultan of a resurrected (nominal) kesultanan (in fact heir of the dynasty) of Jailolo, so the complete structure of 4 royal families of 4 areas was complete again according to tradition.
The Sultana of Ternate;Boki Dra. Nita Budhi Susanti Syah;was chosen in 2004 as the Ternate representative in the Indonesian national parliament. And she seemed to become that again in 2009. But suddenly Sultan Mudafar II Syah was favoured as a candidate and chosen;although he said to some people before, that he was already thinking of slowly but surely to witdraw for very active politics.
But probably he tought, that when his people called upon him to help them, he only could follow the wishes of his people to try to serve them.
His former political so-called rival;Sultan Haji Djafar Junus Syah of Tidore (Tidore was historicaly from time to time a bit the rival of equal powerful Ternate) was chosen in 2004 already as the representative of the part of the so-called kesultanan area of Tidore, where he could stand as a candidate and in 2009 again.
Only the Sultan of Jailolo, Sultan Abdullah Syah (complete name: Sultan Haji Abdullah Abdurachman Haryanto Syah) seemed to need more time to be rooted politically in his so-called kesultanan area. This is a very symphatic former army-officer known king just appeared the last 2 years in the political arena.
He was not chosen, but at least his people knew then, what were his ideas and how he acted as a real politician.
It is to be wished, that this warm personality also will be able to serve his people on a more higher level. So he will be seen in the future more;socializing among his people.

We are greatfull to Mister Bayu Maulana from the USA;official private assistant of HRH the Sultan Mudafar II Syah of Ternate and the site okezone.com to provide us with some interesting facts about these N-Moluccans elections for national parliaments, in which 3 of the 4 kings were candidates.

Maulana's** Articles :

Although the age has changed but the power of local kings in some areas like in North Maluku Province still undefeatable. Two Sultans who followed the race in General Election 2009 to obtain the Senator seats mentioned get the absolute winner.
Sultan of Ternate, Mudaffarsjah shows his power by winning in the half of Ternate and West Halmahera region, and in other sides Sultan Tidore, Djafarsjah as the incumbent participant won above 26 his rivals within Tidore Islands, Middle Halmahera and East Halmahera.
In Ternate, Mudaffarsjah won more than 40% or approximately 32.568 voters from 80378 legal voters. Sultan Tidore was able to reach 7.494 or more than 9,32 % within his three authority
within Tidore Islands, Middle Halmahera and East Halmahera.
In Ternate, Mudaffarsjah won more than 40% or approximately 32.568 voters from 80378 legal voters. Sultan Tidore was able to reach 7.494 or more than 9,32 % within his three authority regions. He won 12.095 equal than 25% from 48.098 legal voters. One step behind of Djafar, the oldest son of previous Sultan Tidore “Taufik Rachman” with 7988 voters equal to 16.61%.
The data above as a result of recapitulation entry in General Election Committee whereas just two regencies and two cities as mentioned at prior that has completed accounting process. Meanwhile, 5 regencies others have not submitted the data.
Only one Sultan that totally failed, he is Sultan Jailolo Abdullah Sjah. From temporary data in General Election Committee his name listed beyond the big five. Provided that he loose in competition with Abdurahman Laahabato who gets 6658 temporary result.


*)DP Tick (Pusat Dokumentasi Kerajaan-kerajaan Indonesia "Pusaka")
**)Mr. Maulana
(The Assistant of Sultan Ternate)


Edited By,
festivi