Surakarta palace's conflict cools down<\/p>\n
Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta<\/p>\n
Conflict between rival princes in Surakarta's Hadiningrat Palace
\nhas started to cool down after the two finally met on Tuesday
\nmorning following a clash between their supporters on Monday.<\/p>\n
The brief meeting at the Dalem Kasentanan, the palace's living
\nroom, was held at 3 a.m. on Tuesday and witnessed by Prince
\nHaryomataram and two lawyers, Elza Syarief representing His
\nHighness Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Hangabehi and Hari Susilo
\nfor High Highness Tedjowulan.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, it was agreed that the two rival princes would
\nmeet from time to time after the Tingalan Dalem Jumenengan
\nceremony to be held to celebrate a year of Hangabehi's rule on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
At the celebration the tension of the past few days had almost
\ndissipated, with some 1,000 guests, including State Minister of
\nAdministrative Reform Taufik Effendi and Surakarta Mayor Joko
\nWidodo as well as some regents, attending the event. However,
\nmany invited guests failed to show up following the reports of
\nclashes between the rival princes' supporters on Monday.<\/p>\n
A parade around the palace complex was held after the ceremony
\nbut unlike previous years, it did not attract much attention.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't think there would a parade after the clashes. I
\nlearned about the parade upon my return from shopping at Klewer
\nMarket,\" said Paimo, a resident of the Central Java town of
\nKlaten.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Tedjowulan and his supporters pushed down fences
\noutside the palace's main gate, demanding to meet Hangabehi and
\ninsisting they had come to save the palace's sacred heirlooms and
\ndignity.<\/p>\n
The meeting between the two rival princes happened after
\nseveral police and military figures, including the chief of
\nSurakarta police Sr. Comr. Abdul Madjid and commander of
\nSurakarta military resort Col. Tisna Koswara, stepped in to help
\nresolve the matter.<\/p>\n
When asked about the meeting, both lawyers, Elza Syarief and
\nHari Susilo, refused to comment. \"Let's see, everything will be
\ncleared up. Everything will be fine,\" Elza said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Prince Soeryo Wicaksono, a Tedjowulan supporter,
\ntold The Jakarta Post that a deal had been struck between the two
\nprinces.<\/p>\n
\"His Highness Hangabehi is willing to meet (Tedjowulan) from
\ntime to time. He asks His Highness Tedjowulan to call his cell
\nphone or home number any time he wants to arrange a meeting,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Despite the meeting, problems still remain. A Hangabehi
\nsupporter, Princess Koes Moertiyah, planned to report Tedjowulan
\nto the police, charging him with causing injury to four of
\nHangabehi's supporters. \"We plan to immediately report the
\nassault to the police,\" Moertiyah said.<\/p>\n
Noted dancer-choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo said the conflict
\nwithin the palace's walls was an embarrassment.<\/p>\n
\"The late Pakubuwono XII initiated reconciliation, which
\ncaused many political leaders, such as Abdurrahman Wahid and
\nAkbar Tanjung, to come to him. But why are his children promoting
\nan 'amok' culture instead,\" he wondered.<\/p>\n
Pakubuwono XII died on June 11 last year without naming a
\nsuccessor. This brought the two princes, Hangabehi and
\nTedjowulan, into conflict, with each claiming to be the rightful
\nheir to the sultanate.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/surakarta-palaces-conflict-cools-down-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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