Surakarta palace's conflict cools down

Surakarta palace's conflict cools down

Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta

Conflict between rival princes in Surakarta's Hadiningrat Palace
has started to cool down after the two finally met on Tuesday
morning following a clash between their supporters on Monday.

The brief meeting at the Dalem Kasentanan, the palace's living
room, was held at 3 a.m. on Tuesday and witnessed by Prince
Haryomataram and two lawyers, Elza Syarief representing His
Highness Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Hangabehi and Hari Susilo
for High Highness Tedjowulan.

At the meeting, it was agreed that the two rival princes would
meet from time to time after the Tingalan Dalem Jumenengan
ceremony to be held to celebrate a year of Hangabehi's rule on
Tuesday.

At the celebration the tension of the past few days had almost
dissipated, with some 1,000 guests, including State Minister of
Administrative Reform Taufik Effendi and Surakarta Mayor Joko
Widodo as well as some regents, attending the event. However,
many invited guests failed to show up following the reports of
clashes between the rival princes' supporters on Monday.

A parade around the palace complex was held after the ceremony
but unlike previous years, it did not attract much attention.

"I didn't think there would a parade after the clashes. I
learned about the parade upon my return from shopping at Klewer
Market," said Paimo, a resident of the Central Java town of
Klaten.

On Monday, Tedjowulan and his supporters pushed down fences
outside the palace's main gate, demanding to meet Hangabehi and
insisting they had come to save the palace's sacred heirlooms and
dignity.

The meeting between the two rival princes happened after
several police and military figures, including the chief of
Surakarta police Sr. Comr. Abdul Madjid and commander of
Surakarta military resort Col. Tisna Koswara, stepped in to help
resolve the matter.

When asked about the meeting, both lawyers, Elza Syarief and
Hari Susilo, refused to comment. "Let's see, everything will be
cleared up. Everything will be fine," Elza said.

Meanwhile, Prince Soeryo Wicaksono, a Tedjowulan supporter,
told The Jakarta Post that a deal had been struck between the two
princes.

"His Highness Hangabehi is willing to meet (Tedjowulan) from
time to time. He asks His Highness Tedjowulan to call his cell
phone or home number any time he wants to arrange a meeting," he
said.

Despite the meeting, problems still remain. A Hangabehi
supporter, Princess Koes Moertiyah, planned to report Tedjowulan
to the police, charging him with causing injury to four of
Hangabehi's supporters. "We plan to immediately report the
assault to the police," Moertiyah said.

Noted dancer-choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo said the conflict
within the palace's walls was an embarrassment.

"The late Pakubuwono XII initiated reconciliation, which
caused many political leaders, such as Abdurrahman Wahid and
Akbar Tanjung, to come to him. But why are his children promoting
an 'amok' culture instead," he wondered.

Pakubuwono XII died on June 11 last year without naming a
successor. This brought the two princes, Hangabehi and
Tedjowulan, into conflict, with each claiming to be the rightful
heir to the sultanate.