Balinese royal accused of killing stepbrother
Balinese royal accused of killing stepbrother
Wahyoe Boediwardhana and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post,
Denpasar, Bali
A Balinese royal family reported one of its members to the police
on Wednesday for stabbing his stepbrother to death following an
overnight dispute at the palace.
Police have placed Anak Agung Ngurah Manik Parasara of
Pemecutan Palace in detention for security reasons, while
questioning other members of the family over the incident that
claimed the life of Anak Agung Ngurah Paranacita.
No charge has been laid against Pararasa, 58, better known as
Ida Cokorda Pemecutan XI.
Witnesses said Cokorda attended a family meeting that night to
discuss a plan to renovate the palace. Several members of the
royal family, including Paranacita, disagreed with the plan.
As the debate grew heated, Cokorda and Paranacita got into a
fight. Later, Cokorda reportedly drew a sword and stabbed
Paranacita in the chest.
"Paranacita was struggling to defend himself. They wrestled
and plunged into a pond," Anak Agung Ngurah Putu Permadi told
reporters on Wednesday.
Paranacita died on the way to Sanglah Hospital.
Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. R. Pengasihan Gaut said
Cokorda claimed he was challenged by his stepbrothers.
"He said he was defending himself from his stepbrothers who
visited him at the palace that night," Pengasihan said.
Paranacita's death caused an uproar among the local people,
who regard the family as one of the noblest and the most
respected royal families in Bali.
The Royal House of Pemecutan was established in the 17th
century by Kiyayi Jambe Pole, also known as Kiyayi Anglurah
Pemecutan I. The present Pemecutan Palace, located in downtown
Denpasar, was built by his descendant I Gusti Ngurah Pemecutan
Sakti.
The family reached its heyday during the turn of the 19th
century when I Gusti Ngurah Made Pemecutan conquered the powerful
kingdoms of Mengwi and Jembrana and built Puri Denpasar Palace,
which became the center of the Badung Kingdom.
In the past, the House of Pemecutan, along with three other
powerful noble houses, the Puri Satria and the Puri Kesiman, co-
ruled the area spanning present-day Denpasar municipality and
Badung regency.
Today, noble houses still play an influential role in the
traditional Balinese community. Their capital resources and
educational background -- generally better than the common
Balinese's -- also give them significant political leverage.
Cokorda formerly chaired Golkar's Bali chapter, while
incumbent Badung regent Cok Ratmadi and Denpasar mayor Anak Agung
Puspayoga are both from the House of Puri Satria.
The heads of other regencies, including Gianyar and Klungkung,
mostly hail from local noble families.