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.