Surakarta Palace succession conflict heats up
Surakarta Palace succession conflict heats up
The dispute within the Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace in Surakarta
took a new twist on Monday when supporters of a rival prince
broke into the palace complex claiming that they had
come to save the palace's sacred relics and dignity.
Flanked by hundreds of his supporters, His Highness Kanjeng
Gusti Pangeran Haryo Tedjowulan demanded to meet his brother, His
Highness Hangabehi.
"I want to see my brother, without other relatives'
involvement. I want to see him alone," Tedjowulan said in Kori
Kamandungan, the palace's main gate.
The conflict was triggered because the former Surakarta
Sultan, Pakoeboewono XII, who died on June 11 last year, did not
name a successor. This immediately pitted two rival princes --
Hangabehi and Tedjowulan -- against each other, with each
claiming to be Pakubuwono XIII, the rightful head of the princely
house.
As things stand at the moment, Tedjowulan lives outside the
palace but has possession of the keys to the palace's treasure
room, which contains the royal heirlooms, while the palace is
occupied by Hangabehi, who ostensibly does not have access to the
treasure room.
Tedjowulan's move took Hangebehi's supporters by surprise as
they were preparing for a ceremony to mark the first anniversary
of Hangabehi's rule on Tuesday.
Hangabehi's spokesman, Satryo Hadinagoro, said the ceremony
would go ahead as planned and at least 1,500 people had been
invited to the event. "Most of those invited are those who will
receive noble titles," he said.
From noon the palace was heavily guarded by police personnel
and around 100 Hangabehi's supporters, who were no match for
hundreds of Tedjowulan's supporters who pushed down fences
outside the palace's main gate.
"We want the conflict to be resolved before such a ceremony is
held," said Soeryo Wicaksono, a prince on Tedjowulan's side.
An hour before the clash, scores of Baluwarti residents --
mostly the palace's abdi dalem (royal servants) -- staged a
protest urging the two princes to resolve the conflict. "We're
distressed by the palace's family conflict," said Joko, a
resident. (JP/Blontank Poer)