The Return of the Crownprince of Kutai Kartanegara to his birthplace in Holland

Left : Dr. H.A.R.M.Gondo Prawiro
Middle : The Kutai Crownprince Pangeran Haji Aji Adipati Prabu Anum Surja Adiningrat
Right : Drs. Ferdinand F. Baron de Smeth van Alphen


















The triumph of the Royal Culture of Kutai in Holland

On the 25th of may 2009 it was finally the day of His Royal Highness the Pangeran Makhota,or Crownprince of Kutai Kartanegara:Pangeran Aji Adipati Prabu Anum Surja Adiningrat to try to see his house,where he was born in 1951 in the town of Wassenaar; near Leiden in Holland. There his father,who then was the crownprince of Kutai Kartanegara,was studying at the Royal University of Leiden.
The Crownprince returned as a boy of 5 years to Kutai. But first the Crownprince had to fullfill his duties to lead the cultural dance and musicgroup of Kutai Kartanegara at the Tong Tong Fair in Den Haag. That is for the present promotion of extraordinary places and cultures of Indonesia in Europe. First the Crownprince in the presence of the Chief of the Department of Economic Development of Kutai Kartanegara; Pangeran Gondo Prawiro with his wife,and their respective staffs were greated with extra respect by the organisation of Tong Tong Fair. Then the show of traditional and modern culture of Kutai Kartanegara began.A trully impressive show,which luckily also impresses the very big audience (the audience hall was filled until the last place) at the place of the dances and show of modern clothes with inspiration of local weaving traditions.
The royal dances,the general Melayu dances and the Dayak dances; accompagnied by the for Dutch ears very unique sound of Kutai music and also the modern clothes show took 75 minutes. The Dutch audience was same impressed by the unique Kutai culture, which was because of their liveliness and happy character very liked by the Dutch audience. After 75 minutes the total audience was very unhappy, that it already ended, because they found it less from boring. The Crownprince espacially was accompagnied by the representative of the Dutch National Council of Nobility: Drs. Ferdinand F. Baron de Smeth van Alphen (whose family was for generations very close to the Royal Family of Holland). The Baron has the last years a project to try to exchange experiences with the Royal and Princely families of Indonesia with the Noble and Royal families of Europe concerning theirfunctioning in the so-called modern time;espacially their value for preserving the old culture and some moral values as well. The Crownprince was very proud to explain time after time his culture to this important nobleman from Holland. Coming friday the Dutch nobility;lead by the Baron, will be present again at a show of Kutai and other Indonesia culture at a cultural day in Den Haag;organised by the Indonesian embassy in the Netherlands. The Dutch audience was also very impressed to have a real crownprince of Indonesia near them for am while and more,they were impressed because it was also the Crownprince of the oldest kingdom of Indonesia(Kutai already exists for 1600 years). After the event the Crownprince was not able to refind his house of birth. But that would come later. Together with Pangeran Gondo Prawiro and their staffs he had to do more work to strengthen the position of Kutai as a tourist destination and also had to talk with Dutch archive researchers to try to find more old historical Kutai pictures, films and other documents, in which they were quite succesfull. After a bit relaxing as well some times and trying the for their taste strange Dutch food (only the Crownprince was happy to again taste the food of the country), where he had lived the first 5 years of his life like cheese, milk, havermout (Dutch porridge) and the best strawberries of the world (from Holland).
At 22.30 the royal- and civil delegation from Kutai Kartanegara finally could lay down their duties for the promotion of the royal and general culture of Kukar in Holland and went exhausted to sleep. Many Dutch people only remained with one question:
where the Kutai Kartanegara dance and musicgroup had taken the enormous amount of energy with which they performed their culture; a culture which was trully not in their mind,but in their heart.
Kutai culture:a trully unique culture.And that is no flattering.


Article By,
Donald P. Tick

Edited By,
festivi

Hitu-one of the few principalities of the S-Moluccans still existing

In general the south part of the Moluccans are divided in several, or better said:many areas called negris and not really in principalities, or kingdoms.
That was because of the ruling systems in this area.
Also because the former foreign governments in here encouraged and stimulated seperate rule in all these areas.
There was some kind of ruling system, which was a development to more centralised rule, but wishes inside the society and the foreign stimulance of divided rule also didn't really speed up this process.
In general only the Hitu area in the north of Ambon island (covering a big part of that area ), the island of Kisar, some areas on Ceram, the negris of Kilang, Nusanive and Soya( and some more) are considered as a sort of principality.
Hitu exists as a semi-principality in development (so you can describe it at least) already for ca. 500 years. Before the begin of the first fereation head in 1512 there were some rulers, who were also described as the ruler of Hitu, but not of the Hitu as a federation, but of a negri.
In history the federation rule was described as being divided over 4
lines,2 delivered the federationhead, 1 the Raja Hitu(from which are descended a later Raja Hitu line) and another ruler.
The Hitu federation was brought to an end officially with the violent death of the last federationhead, who was the Kapitan Hitu;in 1643.
From a son are descended the later rajas of Hitulama, who are considered as the heirs of the Hitu principality.
There are also the rulers of Hitumessing with the same familyname, who live in the same area, but have a different people to rule as negri rulers.
On 21-3-2007 Upu Latu Sitania,or Raja Salhana Pelu was installed as the 37th raja of an area,which ever carried a Hitu-name and the 19th descendant of the first Hitu ruler (the negri) :Raja Abdul Kadir.
The present raja is born in 1975 and has studied economics and now is working in the businessworld.
He tries to live a clean moral live and even punished his brother, who was temptated by gambling some time ago.
The crownhat of the raja is a copy of the original one,but the objects on it and the design is original.
The Pelu dynasty is known to be pietistic,but not fundamentalistic.
The Hitu federation was formed by several negris, which still recognize the special traditional position of the Raja of Hitulama.
The several hunderds S-Moluccan negris with their rulers are united in a council of upu latu's (rajas) although not all has the right to have according the tradition the title of raja), which is f.i. in 2009 led by Raja Abdullah Malawat of Mamala (also a member of the Hitu federation).

Article and Photo from:
Donald P. Tick

Edited By,
festivi

Rat Umis Abdul Hakim Achmad Aituarauw of Kaimana

Kaimana is one of the 9 principality like areas of the Bomberai peninsula area of Papua.
Originally Kaimana was a part of Namatota (Namatotte) principality, but slowly but surely became effectively an area on it's own.
Kaimana must have been already ca. 5 centuries an area on it's own.Some centuries ago it merged with Namatota. Namatota is the Papua principality lying in the east of the above called area.
Namatota had more minor rajas under it's rule.
When Kaimana was still an independent area, it was ruled from Adi island, but later they went to Kaimana area proper and called itself Kaimana Lamora.
Ca. at the end of the 19th century the last Raja of Adi (succesor to the raja of Kaimana Lamora) had died,but in the extensive area of the Namatota principality there was a need for representatives sometimes.Now the need was felt in the area, which is later called as Kaimana.
Ca. 1898 a sub-raja was installed with name NaroE. The dynasty now claims, that he was actually descendant of the rulers,who always had ruled Kaimana.
Such a ruler was actually called Raja Komisi,but locally they called him Rat Umis.
The last Rat Umis in Dutch colonial time was Rat Umis Achmad Muhammad Aituarauw.
First he lived in kaimana town, but to go a bit away from the pressing influence of his suzerain he made a new residence on the Kilimala island somewhere in the 1930-ies.
This ruler was known as a quite cunning man, with so much influence in Namatota,that the Dutch were seriously thinking of replacing him by another ruler to try to reestablish the power equilibre here after World War II. That was never done however.
The Rajas of Namatota and the Rats Umis of Kaimana were also quite influential in the Arguni bay area in the north of the area,but later that remained more or less a nominal influence only.
Most of all these rulers in the Bomberai/Onin area were trader dynasties, who had more interest in trade,than real rule as it was known in the west.
So the Dutch were not always fully satisfied with the intermediary function they had between the Dutch Government and the more inland living peoples.
When the last Rat Umis of the Dutch time died in 1966, his son Muhammad Achmad Aituarauw was then already a respected government official. He was made officially the Rat Umis then, but gave the day to day monarchistic rule, or functioning to his brother Muhammad Saleh Aituarauw, who was only recognized as Regent-Rat Umis.
The present monarch of Kaimana; Rat Umis Abdul Hakim Achmad Aituarauw, S.Sos; a well-know politician;is the son of Rat Umis Muhammad Achmad Aituarauw.
This ruling family was always full of ruling ambitions. So is a certain Drs. Achmad Hassan Aituarauw the present Bupati, or Districtchief of an area, which also bears the name Kaimana and the cousin of the Rat Umis(son of the former Regent) Haji Arobi Achmad Aituarauw was in 2006 a candidate for the governorship of the province of Papua. (He became 2nd).
Nowadays the Onin, or Bomberai area rajas are espacially very important in being the representatives of their area concerning the rights the local people have in protecting the ecological system of their areas.
The radjas of Namatota and the rats umis of Kaimana were not always so at the top of their power, but the people always respected them as the at least symbolic representatives of their areas to the outside world.
Or:focussing on your own local identity.
The Onin rajas were before represented to the outside world by the Raja of Rumbati and these had to make political dealings with the Raja of Misool in the Raja Ampat islands(west of Onin area),who was the representative of both areas for the N.-Moluccan sultan of Tidore,who was the suzerain of this area.
Some said before, that the power of the 9 monarchs of the Onin-area was nearly gone, but nowadays they are returning back strongly: for instance as fatherly representatives of their respective areas and keepers of the local customs and history.
This is another example,that political functioning of rulers can hardly be predicted for the full 100%.

With thanks to the Aituarauw ruling family for using the picture of the present Rat Umis, to be found as well on their own website at
http://aituarauw-kaimana.blogspot.com


D.P. Tick gRMK (research)
I. Festivana (design/website maintaining)

The political resurrection of the King of Ternate

DP Tick* Articles :

Indonesian politics is still unpredictable and that it makes it also quite interesting.
One of the big surprises of the last time is the sudden political resurrection of the Sultan of Ternate in the N-Moluccans.
This king with complete name:Sultan Drs. Mudafar II Syah Masjur Kamo Lano (usually known as Sultan Mudafar II Syah) won in the last april election for the national parliament a seat as a senator. A part of this parliament is made up of representatives special of their area and the people of a part of the area of the so-called Kesultanan Ternate, where the sultan stood candidate, choose him as their wished candidate to represent their needs and further things of their lives in the national parliament.
Since 1999 the Sultan of Ternate experienced some political problems. Then the N-Moluccan province was being shaped and some blame him for being to ambitious in that process. After the reinstallment of the structure Moloku Kie Raha (N-Moluccans to be seen as the area of the 4 kingdoms) the situation went slowly but surely more better in the Moluccans. In 2001 Sultan Abdullah Syah was installed as new sultan of a resurrected (nominal) kesultanan (in fact heir of the dynasty) of Jailolo, so the complete structure of 4 royal families of 4 areas was complete again according to tradition.
The Sultana of Ternate;Boki Dra. Nita Budhi Susanti Syah;was chosen in 2004 as the Ternate representative in the Indonesian national parliament. And she seemed to become that again in 2009. But suddenly Sultan Mudafar II Syah was favoured as a candidate and chosen;although he said to some people before, that he was already thinking of slowly but surely to witdraw for very active politics.
But probably he tought, that when his people called upon him to help them, he only could follow the wishes of his people to try to serve them.
His former political so-called rival;Sultan Haji Djafar Junus Syah of Tidore (Tidore was historicaly from time to time a bit the rival of equal powerful Ternate) was chosen in 2004 already as the representative of the part of the so-called kesultanan area of Tidore, where he could stand as a candidate and in 2009 again.
Only the Sultan of Jailolo, Sultan Abdullah Syah (complete name: Sultan Haji Abdullah Abdurachman Haryanto Syah) seemed to need more time to be rooted politically in his so-called kesultanan area. This is a very symphatic former army-officer known king just appeared the last 2 years in the political arena.
He was not chosen, but at least his people knew then, what were his ideas and how he acted as a real politician.
It is to be wished, that this warm personality also will be able to serve his people on a more higher level. So he will be seen in the future more;socializing among his people.

We are greatfull to Mister Bayu Maulana from the USA;official private assistant of HRH the Sultan Mudafar II Syah of Ternate and the site okezone.com to provide us with some interesting facts about these N-Moluccans elections for national parliaments, in which 3 of the 4 kings were candidates.

Maulana's** Articles :

Although the age has changed but the power of local kings in some areas like in North Maluku Province still undefeatable. Two Sultans who followed the race in General Election 2009 to obtain the Senator seats mentioned get the absolute winner.
Sultan of Ternate, Mudaffarsjah shows his power by winning in the half of Ternate and West Halmahera region, and in other sides Sultan Tidore, Djafarsjah as the incumbent participant won above 26 his rivals within Tidore Islands, Middle Halmahera and East Halmahera.
In Ternate, Mudaffarsjah won more than 40% or approximately 32.568 voters from 80378 legal voters. Sultan Tidore was able to reach 7.494 or more than 9,32 % within his three authority
within Tidore Islands, Middle Halmahera and East Halmahera.
In Ternate, Mudaffarsjah won more than 40% or approximately 32.568 voters from 80378 legal voters. Sultan Tidore was able to reach 7.494 or more than 9,32 % within his three authority regions. He won 12.095 equal than 25% from 48.098 legal voters. One step behind of Djafar, the oldest son of previous Sultan Tidore “Taufik Rachman” with 7988 voters equal to 16.61%.
The data above as a result of recapitulation entry in General Election Committee whereas just two regencies and two cities as mentioned at prior that has completed accounting process. Meanwhile, 5 regencies others have not submitted the data.
Only one Sultan that totally failed, he is Sultan Jailolo Abdullah Sjah. From temporary data in General Election Committee his name listed beyond the big five. Provided that he loose in competition with Abdurahman Laahabato who gets 6658 temporary result.


*)DP Tick (Pusat Dokumentasi Kerajaan-kerajaan Indonesia "Pusaka")
**)Mr. Maulana (The Assistant of Sultan Ternate)


Edited By,
festivi

Crownprince of Kutai will visit Holland in may 2009

About Picture Above : On this recent picture during a royal ritual event you can see from left to right the Crownprince and Crownprincess of Kutai, H.R.H. Aji Melinda Delyna Sari (one of their 3 daughters) and Drs. Muhammad Agri Winata;official representative of the royal family of Kutai for the foreign countries and maintainer of a website about Kutai (also royal) at www.kutaikartanegara.com .
He is also descendant of one of the sultans of Kutai and known, for always writing and talking about royal and general Kutai in an interesting way.

His Royal Highness Aji Pangeran Adipati Surya Adiningrat;the Crownprince of Kutai, with the Crownprincess H.R.H. Raden Puspa Kencana;accompagnied by a royal delegation will visit in may 2009;as representative of his father Sultan Aji Haji Mohammad Salehoeddin II, the Netherlands.
The meaning for this 2nd Kutai royal visit in 2 years to the Netherlands will be the promotion of the royal and general culture of Kutai (as a sultanate officially known as Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura) the Kingdom of the (prosperous) Kutai and Kutai-Martadipura (a former statelett with whom it merged ca. 500 years ago).
Kutai is known as the oldest kingdom of Indonesia (already existing ca. 1600 years) and nowadays known as an area whose dynasty is able to show very much yearly of their culture and history.
The mostly yearly Eraufestival (remembrance of the settlement of the dynasty at his present residence;meant to uphold a good contact between the population and the royal family) is a good example of that.
The old and last used palace in the time, that the sultans still were ruling officially over Kutai is now a museum which displays royal and general local objects.
Nearby is the modern, but built in traditional style, palace, which is now the official residence of the sultan (although he lives mostly in a villa nearby).
The beautifull royal graves at 2 places (one near the old palace) and other items makes it very fascinating (and it makes you amazed, that nearly unknown, there is such an interesting place in Indonesia) to go there for a while.
Kutai is known for it's relaxed atmosphere.
Very beautifull nature nearby.
The royal city of Tenggarong along the Mahakam-river is a nice place. Kutai is the most prosperous area(oil;also it is called "the Brunei of Indonesia") of Indonesia and it is also a rare place,where prosperity has preserved the old culture (and atmopshere).
The in Holland as Aji Arifin born crownprince(his father studied at a Dutch university in the 1950-ies) is a governmentofficial (like his father was before) and;because of the age of his father (83 years) he is more and more representing his father and the local government at royal meetings,promotionactivities, ritual meetings,etc.
His father still maintains in a wonderfull and strong way his role as King of Kutai;at least as a focuspoint for the cultural identity of the Kutai area.
Because of the works of the previous Bupati of Kutai Kartanegara, Dr. Syaukani, Kutai could see many stimulating activities to preserve the rich and interesting royal culture of Kutai.
It is wonderfull to see, that even outside Java the young Indonesian generation is very eager to listen and learn from the older generations the old dances,the old histories, the old music,etc.All are proud also to have preserved their old culture.
That is very nice to experience in Indonesia: the motto of the coat of arms of Indonesia is Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) and espacially in the last years the young schoolgoing people are teached the meaning and ability to perform their old culture.
The present crownprince and crownprincess of Kutai play a major role in such activities together with the Sultan and other members of the dynasty.
From 21 may until 1 june 2009 there will be the very big Indonesian fair in Den Haag/Holland: the Tong Tong Festival (very near the Central Railway station).
The royal delegation of Kutai with a cultural general delegation will attend this festival.
Very precious and interesting:nowadays rarely such high Indonesian royals visit the Netherlands, with whom it was connected in the past also in good ways.

Probably the royal delegation (they will have a special contactplace at the festival) will stay in Holland for ca. 1 1/2 week.
More precise details we hope to give you as soon as possible after messages received from the local government and royal dynasty.

D.P. Tick

Edited,
festivi

Historian and King

Here is depicted a rather special person:as historian he is known as Tuanku Luckman Sinar as King (of Serdang/East Sumatra since 2002) he is known as Sultan Bashar Shah II.
Also quite special is, that the livespan from his grandfather Sultan Basyaruddin Shah until the present time is exactly 200 years. His grandfather was born 1809 and ruled until his death in 1879. As a middleaged man he begot his succesor Sultan Sulaiman Ariful Shah, who ruled until 1946. This sultan begot the present Sultan as already a relative old man in the beginning of the 1930-ies. This Dutch speaking King is very good informed about the history of espacial the island of Sumatra; Only the southern part is not his area. His dynasty is also intermarried with several nearby dynasties, so that he is espcial informed about the East-Sumatra dynasties. He had written very much book and articles, gave very much readings, know very much about the function of the dynasties in the present time, advises many dynastychiefs about how to reappear in the social life of their area and is very respected in the national royal network.
Now he is working on a project to make his father Sultan Sulaiman a National Indonesian hero, because of his always thinking and acting for an independent Indonesia (he was much preserving his independent identity and the Dutch found him a king with heart for his people, but not very good cooperating with Holland).
He is a very examplary Indonesian royal, how he uses his descent to serve his country well.
On the picture he is depicted with his wife Sultana Suri Daratul Qamar; a princess from the nearby (former) principality of Kotapinang. Also a royal, who is very good informed about the local royal/princely history and shares the interest for the local history with her king-husband.

DP Tick
Festivi

Descendant of exiled Indonesian hero-rebel prince after 223 back to the country of his forefathers

Mister Faiq Doole; the descendant of an important exiled rebel prince from the West-Javanese sultanate of Banten will finally see the dynasty of his forefathers next month.
His forefather Tobagus Doella was exiled in 1786 by the Dutch East-Indian Government(V.O.C./Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie called in fact)because of his rebelactions against Holland.
He was then exiled to Ceylon/Sri Lanka, which was then in the possesion of Holland. Sri Lanka and South-Africa (Cape of Good Hope; also then in possesion of Holland) was then the major exile places for important Indonesian rebels against Dutch rule.
Mister Faiq Doole is now; after help of Raja Leopold Isu Nisnoni of Kupang/Timor; an important member of one of the Indonesian royal organisations; i s now in contact with some assistents of the present nominal-monarch of Banten: HRH Sultan-Muda Haji Drs. Tubagus Ismetullah Wase Al Abbas.
It will be for all a very important and emotional reunion after 223 years in coming may.We shall show pictures and reports about this visit later.

donald
festivi