'Cirebon deserves provincial status'

'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."