Duttes Mer Duttes Mer was governor of the Rafa system . Biography . Due to the constitutional setup of the Centrality , which was a somewhat loose confederation , Governors had more power than their counterparts in the Galactic Empire . As Rokur Gepta , current Scrivinir , actually hated politics and rarely took part in them , their unofficial power was even greater . And with the prestige of the life - crystal s and life - orchard s in the Rafa system , Mer was arguably the most powerful politician in the Centrality ( in purely political terms ) . So it was that when Gepta approached Mer with a plan to uncover the Mindharp of the Sharu , it was as fairly equal partners rather than as a ruler and his subordinate , although Mer was indeed terrified of the Sorcerer of Tund ' s powers . Mer had Captain Myle Jandler and several of his men rough up Lando Calrissian , who had just arrived , and bring him and Vuffi Raa in . He and Gepta then briefed them on their plan to recover the Mindharp , a plan which needed Calrissian and Vuffi Raa , as together the two seemingly fulfilled a Toka prophecy . After the briefing , and being intimidated by Gepta into offering Calrissian an entire hold of life - crystals for his trouble , the smuggler left for Rafa V to explore the largest of the ancient Sharu ruins . Gepta , in his own personal fighter , circled the planet to wait . Thus Mer seemingly had the advantage when Calrissian and Vuffi Raa , thanks to the Sharu ' s teleportation technology , suddenly materialized back on Rafa IV with the Mindharp . Mer had Calrissian imprisoned and kept the Mindharp ; Vuffi Raa he merely considered a piece of mindless property , like all droids . The Governor called Gepta to gloat about having the Mindharp , and that he knew its " true " purpose — to control the minds of everyone in the Rafa system , and from there perhaps even further , to the ends of the galaxy itself . After hearing this , Vuffi Raa made his escape and freed Calrissian . Mer , meanwhile , began to play the Mindharp . However , no minds were controlled , save his own , enchanted by the possibilities ; instead , massive tremors began to shake every planet in the Rafa system . Desperately , he tried to play it again and again , knowing he had to control Gepta ' s mind before his arrival or all was lost . But all was lost anyway . Every play of the tines simply caused more destruction , for the Mindharp had nothing at all to do with mind control , save for the spell of greed and lust for power that sentient beings cast on themselves when trying to control it . It was simply an elaborate lure , letting the Sharu know that whatever threat had nearly destroyed them was gone , and that it was safe to cast off their disguises as the Toka . It also reactivated the ancient Sharu computers and brought their hidden cities to the surface . When Rokur Gepta arrived , it was too late for Duttes Mer . As he opened the door to his office , the Mindharp began to glow so brightly that even the mighty Sorcerer of Tund could barely look at it . Then , the " Ultimate Instrument of Music " and the Governor of the Rafa system both began to melt , ending up nothing more than a puddle on the floor . Personality and traits . As opposed to many Governors , who flaunted their wealth in ostentatious displays in their offices , Mer ' s own office in Teguta Lusat on Rafa IV was relatively spartan . His desk , however , was constructed entirely of life - crystal , which said more about the power at his command than any amount of glitzy " objets d ' art " ever could .