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)