The Jakarta Post, Surakarta Mon, 06/11/2012,
A truce between two bickering parties to put an end to the internal rift at Surakarta Palace, sparked by the dual leadership seven years ago following the demise of Pakubuwono XII, who did not have a queen but had many concubines, has to be a relief to local residents.
Local figure Sumartono Hadi-noto said the king of Surakarta Palace had no actual power to rule. Yet, he set a role model for the community. “Don’t let our younger generation take their examples from bad attitudes,” Sumartono
told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.
The palace, he said, was the symbol of custom, the guardian of culture and the preserver of numerous legacies worth maintaining. “I hope the agreement will restore the king and the palace’s reputation.”
Over the past few weeks, the internal rift had seen the Sentana (royal family members), who take care of palace management, deny entry to the palace to the newly formed duumvirate of palace king Pakubuwono (PB) XIII Hangabehi and Mahapatih (deputy king) KGPH Panembahan Tedjowulan.
Under the reconciliation agreement, Tedjowulan, who in 2005 had himself crowned as PB XIII, is ready to relinquish the title of “king” and change it to Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Panembahan Agung, which is a special title credited to the Surakarta Kasunanan Keraton. This title was mutually agreed upon by Hangabehi and Tedjowulan.
Due to the absence of an heir apparent or crown prince during the bickering, Hangabehi was being groomed to become the next ruler, as the eldest son of Pakubuwono XII’s eldest concubine. Tedjowulan, however, assumed the throne and the title due to the belief that every Pakubuwono prince is entitled to become king.
Despite the truce, however, the two have been locked out of the palace as they were deemed to have violated the palace’s ethical code.
The violation was partly related to each other’s claim over the throne for seven years since the death of their father and then king, Pakubuwono XII.
However, it was not only the rift between both men that barred them from the palace but also the fact that they had made a reconciliation pact in Jakarta and not in the palace, as the Sentana had expected.
Last week’s mediation, facilitated by Surakarta Mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, brought the Sentana and the pair together and they agreed to fulfill each other’s demands.
“All [demands] have been fulfilled. The dispute is 100 percent settled. Now we are just waiting for the Jumenengan [coronation] anniversary celebration, scheduled for June 15,” Jokowi said.
Representing the Sentana were GKR Wandansari, GKR Timoer, GKR Galuh Kencana, GKR Retno Dumilah, KGPH Puger, KP Eddy Wirabhumi and KP Satriyo Hadinagoro.
The Sentana members, according to Jokowi, had agreed to welcome PB XIII to enter the palace, but Tedjowulan had to wait until June 15 to do so.
The Sentana was reported to have demanded that Tedjowulan write a letter of apology to PB XIII as a requirement before being allowed to return to the palace.
Surakarta Legislative Council speaker, Y.F. Soekasno, said the agreement also marked the end of seven years of conflict in the palace. “Now, the palace can focus on its function as the guardian of custom and culture.”
The reconciliation between both rulers is believed by local residents to have had a positive impact on heritage and cultural preservation, especially in terms of the safeguarding the keraton as a heritage site.
“Our interest is to preserve culture. Reconciliation of the budget can easily be set aside and the funds can be used to maintain the keraton,” said Jokowi.
ma 11 jun 2012 - 20:46