'Cirebon deserves provincial status'

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon

Kasepuhan Sultan Maulana Pakuningrat says that based on considerations of history, culture, economy and geography, the Cirebon area deserves to have its status raised to the provincial level.

"Historically, the Kasepuhan Sultanate which is centered around the town of Cirebon, is a sovereign territory. The culture of its people -- known as the Cirebon culture -- is very distinct. It belongs to neither the Sundanese nor the Javanese. Its indigenous people prefer to be called wong (the people of) Cirebon," Sultan Maulana told The Jakarta Post at his palace on Saturday.

Also known as the Cirebon Sultanate, which was founded in 1679, the sultanate covers an area now comprising the neighboring regencies of Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka and Kuningan.

"The fact that the Cirebon region has a vast geographical area covering four regencies and that it is rich in natural resources, means it has the potential to become a new province," said the Sultan.

However, he conceded that limited human resources might hamper efforts for its improvement to become a new province.

The idea of establishing the Cirebon province had been proposed by the Kasepuhan crown prince, Prince Arief Natadiningrat, a few years ago. The proposal was made in reaction to a plan to change the name of the West Java province to Pasundan province.

He said, if those proposing the use of the name of Pasundan insist on their plan, then it was logical that Cirebon be made a separate province. "Because, historically and culturally, Cirebon is different from Pasundan. Pasundan covers the Parahyangan areas of Sukabumi, Bandung, Garut, Sumedang, Cianjur and Bogor; areas that culturally are Sundanese. Historically, the Pasundan areas belonged to the Pajajaran Kingdom," he said.

"While Cirebon area, if we refer to the Kasepuhan Sultanate's territory would also include Karawang, Subang, Indramayu, Cirebon, Majalengka, Kuningan and Ciamis. In another words, Cirebon's geographical territory is much larger than that of Pasundan," he added.

Sultan Maulana said that he supported the idea of making Cirebon a new province, "But I don't have any political power to hasten the realization of the idea. The decision lies with the central government and the House of Representatives."

He urged the West Java governor and provincial legislative council (DPRD) to be proactive in responding to the idea.

"Members of the community and administration officials in the Cirebon region welcome the idea. Now it depends on the West Java DPRD and Cirebon DPRD."