Indonesia Ibarat Cermin Retak Citra Indonesia

Economic conditions in Indonesia in general has not yet improved. Performance ofthe reform has not felt the people

Consequently there is no certainty. Social upheavals and pragmatism hit innocent people. Ironically emerging separatist, worse still there want to be independent andseparated from the motherland's lap.

In fact the people during these kepempinan need strong, decisive, pro-democracyand pro-people.

That's what makes concerned Raja Sultan Iskandar Sultan Machmud Badaruddin ofPalembang Darussalam.

"I am concerned about the current condition of Indonesia. Indonesia is now is like acracked mirror, "said Iskandar was appointed as Chairman of the Foundation afterRaja Sultan Nusantara (YARASUTRA), Wednesday (21/12/2011) night in Jakarta.

The event was attended 100 King and the Sultan from all over Indonesia, the presidents and a number of ambassadors of friendly countries.

"Therefore, I urge the government to invite us to solve various problems for the sakeof progress and prosperity of this country." He said.

The King also called on the government through (Regional Assistance Government Budget) budget provide a specific budget to the King and the Sultan who has beencredited for his contribution
forerunner to the establishment of Indonesia.

"I ask this proposal because not all the king Sultan's present economic condition ofboth. I even heard of King Sultan who come here (Jakarta, red) for his personalexpenses had to sell cows, "he said.

Alluding to the formation of YARASUTRA, Alexander insists the election was notpolitical aims.

"YARASUTRA founded one of his goals as a front line to preserve the culture ofIndonesia. We are committed to the advancement and prosperity of the Republic ofIndonesia (Homeland), "he explained. (him)

Descendant of the Napoleon of the island of rajas installed

West of the island of Timor lies the Rote islands,which archipelago consists of the main island of Rote,the island of Ndao and several other;unhabited;islands.
Once this archipelago had 19 principalities,so it was once the most densily with principalities populated area of Indonesia.
It has a surface of ca. 1214 km2 with now ca. 120.000 people.Apart from the many Rote people living on Timor and elsehwere in the province of NTT and more further.
The principalities differed in size,amount of people and years of existence.
But one principality came back in the history of this archipelago as an ambtious area:the nusak,or principality of Termanu.
Several times it's rulers tried to unite the raja rule of the whole archipelago of Rote Ndao under it's rule,but always in vain.The last time it was really tried was during the rule of the 16th raja: Manek Mauk Amalo(1820-1827).Because of acting with to much passion he was deposed and exiled from the island.After a raja from a side-line and several short rules,they found it better to call back the strong,but before aggressive ex-raja,who now had become a Christian and used his name,which he already had before as a crownprince:Daniel Johannes Mauk Amalo
He had done good service in between for Holland in a battle with another ambitious raja:the manek of the quite good populated principality of Dengka.
So from 1840 he was again the manek of Termanu.But he maybe had changed his old religion,but his ruling ambitions still wandered in his mind and now with more idealism he tried to make one kingdom of the Rote islands:a normal process we can see all over the world.
But the way he tried to reach it was not liked by the then paramount power in the area:Holland.
They disapproved his brutal way of acting and other matters.So in februari 1843 he was again deposed and exiled.This time to Ambon and later with his oldest son to Surabaya.
His clan was removed from Rote,because then being to influential stil.
For some time the rule was returned to the previous side/line of the dynasty,but in 1860 returning to the Amalo branch and that remained so mostly until the present time( as son of the brother of Ex-manek Mauk Amalo became the new manek in 1859).
From ca. 1910 espacially Holland tried to unite a lot of little principalities on Rote and elsewhere in Indonesia to have a more beter coördination and overview over each area.On Rote the 19 different dynasties now became sub-district rulers under a paramount ruler.
The Amalo dynasty then still for all kind of reasons was seen as a dynasty,who could deliver a good candidate for the paramount rule:Crownprince Jacob Amalo in the last part of the unification already.
But most of the other 18 dynasties were much against a paramount rule of the before seen as the Napoleon dynasty of Rote.Already for long the characteristics of this dynasty had changed, but stll the old fears were there,not in the least by the 3 dynasties,who had seperated themselves from Termanu in ca. 1772.
For some reasons even Prince Jacob Amalo never became a manek of Termanu.His youngest brother Ernst Johannis Jeremias Michiel Amalo became in 1947 finally the manek of Termanu,from 1914-1946 Termanu was ruled by his uncle and 2 of his cousins(sons of that uncle).
The facts,that Prince Ernst Amalo became manek was in fact the following of an old rule,to let the raja as much as possible be succeeded by his youngest son(so that the rule would be stable,because a young raja would enable a long rule,a vast succesion of rajas would produce an unstable atmosphere).
From 1912 the rajas of Termanu also were the districtchiefs of Lomakoli and in 1918 that district was enlarged to a bigger district called Rote Talada.
From before 1928 Holland then first asked a prince of the manek dynasty of OEpao to be the government raja of the Rote islands.This trully Christian protestant priest was known as a peacemaker above to serve him as a raja.
So then they found a colonial official,who was member of the vice-raja clan of the oldest principality on Rote:Joël Simon Kedoh from Landu.
It was the good,that he married the sister of the later Manek Ernst Amalo,because then he would be better accepted and respected by the rajas.
Manek Ernst Amalo ruled in fact only really in Termanu until 1963,because,although Rote was a bit decentralised later,after ca. 1930,at the end there were sill some districts.
Manek Ernst Amalo was such a districtruler from 1963-1966;represented locally in Termanu by his sub-raja,or fettor called Franz Biredoko.
In 1966,the time,when more and more the raja governments on these islands ceased to exist sem-offically and officially,he choose to make a carrier in the regional politics.
He was succeeded until 1970 by the son of his brother Migel/Michiel:Manek John Amalo(already deceased before 2000).
Also on the Rote islands the government and society had reorientated themselves on the values of the traditional local social systems from ca. 2000,as elsewhere in Indonesia,to be stimulated and enabled by the national deenrtaliaton laws of 1999 and by oher central regulated matters .
Many good values in it were rediscovered.Total harmonious society was hoped for.
On 14-10-2007 the oldest son of the last regarded real elected manek of Termanu;Manek Ernst Amalo(Manek John Amalo was more see as a temporary replacement of him,because his uncle was still alive(and died only in 1984))Prince Soleman Jermias Miquel Amalo was installed as the dynastychief of Temanu and his brother Joel J.M. Amalo as the crownprince.In 2004 the dynastychief was already regarded semi-officially as dynastychief,but his bad health already gave the idea better later to make is brother Prince Joël the new manek.
In 2007 they stil wanted to give the oldest son of the last real manek the honour to function officially as dynastychief,but in 2011 he would make place for his brother Prince Joël Amalo.
So on 15-10-2011 after more than 60 years again a new chosen manek was installed by the council of 16(the present coördinator was the former first mayor of Kupang city,Prince Messakh Amalo.)
In fact the total installation days;before,during and after the actual installation;was open for many people,the actual installation day for everybody,but in fact they had kept it a more innerdynastic affair.
So the other 18 dynasties of Rote Ndao were attending on a representative basis by Manek Reverend Soleman Zacharias of Loleh,the local government by Vice-Governor Drs. Esthon Foenay of the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur and by Camat(sub-districtchief) Drs. Jhon Nite of Rote Tengah(Middle- Rote) with their delegations.
The provincial royalty was represented by Raja/Usif Leopold Isu Nisnoni of Kupang(his mother was the sister of Manek Ernst Amalo),Usif Drs. Theodorus Taolin of Insana/Timor(his sister is married with the first mayor of Kupang city;Prince Messakh Amalo,being the son of a former regent- raja of Termanu),Raja Michael Bria;vice-liurai of Malakka/Belu/Timor and Liurai Joseph Seran of Waiwiku/Belu/Timor.
Manek Joël Jermias Miquel Amalo is for long known as a member of the local parliament of the district of Kupang,of which until not so long ago Rote Ndao was a part.
The Rote people are known for being quite sobre in their ceremonies,so after some welcome and other dances for the high guests and the to be installed raja,there was only a relative simple ceremony,wich made him the new manek of Termanu.The list of the rajas was mentioned.Termanu was before ruled by 34 rajas,of which a few were temporary rajas, and only a some from outside the dynasty.The first raja was Ma Bulan and before him the ruling clan know 15 more names of ancestors,who not lived on Rote.
Also the glory of the dynasty was mentioned and the history of the nusak,or principality mentioned as well.
Then the statedagger,or keris,belonging to each of the to be installed maneks of Termanu,then was handed over to him and also a nice decorated box in which was laid the Bible on which the dynasty had promessed since 1827 to found their rule upon.The before very ambitious last Napoleon of Rote Ndao,Mau Amalo(deposed for the first time in 1827) was the last non-Christian manek of Termanu.
After the blessing by the protestant priest and praying to the Almighty he was the new manek of Termanu.Of course also he weared the special local woven traditional clothes as well the ti ilanga;a hat special from Rote, made by natural material and inspirated by the 16th century Portugese hats,which were on Rote Ndao before the Dutch people.From a hat,you can see from which area the owner is and what is his function in society.(The Ti langa is als a symbol of the Rote Ndao islands and also used a bit as a symbol in the local province of NTT).
Also this installation also can be seen as the first real open installation of a manek,or dynastychief of a nusak ,or area of Rote Ndao in the so-called modern time.Before also in Thie,Loleh,Baa,Landu and some others areas a new manek,or dynastychief was installed,but only in more innerdynastic ceremonies..
May the example of Termanu to preserve the good things in the traditional social system(also a holy advise by the Almighty)be followed by the other dynasties of Rote Ndao islands,before known not also as the most densily by principalities populated area,but also as the area,where the rajas ceased as the last one's in Indonesia to rule as a raja or by rajas in fact.

D.P. Tick gMK
I. Festivana

Hero of the cultural restoration of the Indonesian kings died

Once there was a man,who had the name Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Gunarso Kusumodingrat;belonging to the Imperial Court of Surakarta on Java.
He was a journalist from origin and a personal secretary of Susuhunan Paku Buwono XII of Surakarta;the highest monarch of Indonesia.
This Prince Gunarso had promessed once in his life to dedicate himself to the cultural restoration of the Indonesian royal culture (300 dynasties in Indonesia).
He did that as no one else could do with a lot of results.
The biggest result, that some years ago the Indonesian government recognized again all the ca. 300 dynasties of Indonesia again and ordered the local governments to protect and support the royal local culture.
When you thought of Prince Gunarso you thought of the Indonesian kings.
Yes;he really gave his life;really to the end. His family, his religion and his royal dedication were the goals to where his spirit went to.
Many fruits he could take from his continuous hard work.
Supported by his family.

Only the last years he suffered from stomachcancer.
Suddenly also God called him home at the 28th of july 2011.
He was burried in Jakarta.
No matter, who we are:let we never forget this hero of the cultural restoration of the Indonesian kings.Without him we never would be that far as we are
now.
AND SO SAY ALL OF US!!!

May the Good God receive him in the eternal life and send comfort for his family.

Selamat jalan our dear friend. We shall NEVER forget you!

I. Festivana
D.P. Tick gRMK

Meeting of all rajas of W-Timor

Also in Timor the social resurrection of the local dynasties take place.

A new step in this process is the meeting of all the rajas and many fettors(sub-rajas)of the areas of West-Timor, or Timor Loro Manu.

It will take place;a bit under the support of the provincial government of Nusa Tenggara Timur(NTT);in the compound of the Sonaf Banam, or the palacecompound of Raja Nesy Nope of Amanuban in Niki Niki,not so far from the provincial capital Kupang.

It will take place from 10-12 june.

The first day will be the ceremonial welcome greeting and welcome festivites for all the rajas and fettors and their delegations,the 2nd day will be the conference of the dynasties with the provincial government and some researchers and the 3rd day will be the ceremonial farewell day for all the attending delegations.

It will be an unique royal meeting,that hardly in history has taken place before. It will be very colourfull also,because all the rajas and fettors and their delegations will arrive in the traditional royal and nobility clothes and decorated with the same kind of jewelry.

Timor is known as one of the last placesof Indonesia, where the traditional life is so strong preserved, so it will be a very original cultural event as well.

The event will be organised by the Dewan Usif Timor,or the Council of Rajas of Timor,of which Usif Drs. Theodorus(Olis)Taolin of Insana is the president and Raja Leopold Isu Nisnoni of Kupang;also liurai of Sonbai Kecil is the vice-president.

Of course also the vice-governor of NTT,Fettor Drs. Esthon L. Foenay;the dynastychief of Foenay;a member area of the federal monarchistic area of Kupang, will attend. One of the main issues spoken there at the conference day 11 june is to define again, which dignitaries can be described as rajas, which as sub-rajas,or fettors and the like.

Because of the so-called modern time the functioning of the traditional social system was a bit becoming more vague,so the correct definition of the dignitaries here were not always according the facts.

Of course a social system is never a death,standing still system,but to try to make things for outsiders more understandable every dignitary began to use the title raja,or king for him/herself and the bigger coöperation systems because of that were a little bit pushed aside.

To correct that in good coördination,so to make strong the social systems again for the well-being of Timor and via that for the well-being of Indonesia also of course,they decided to organise this unique meeting.

The last years the traditional,historical grown social systems are rediscovered by the so-called modern world as having also good elements for the well-being of the local population.

To have a more stronger identity and a more harmonious life locally,it will be more easy to find your place in the bigger system of the beloved united republic of Indonesia,so that the words added to the national coat of arms:Bhineka Tunggal Ika:Unity in Diversity;can be better made.

We hope in due time to give you an illustrated info about the meeting of all the dynasties of W-Timor.

I. Festivana

D.P. Tick gRMK

Sultan of Banjarmasin promotes Indonesian culture in Europe

On the 25th of may 2011 Holland witnessed a very rare and interesting event:an

Indonesian sultan showed his age-old royal dance- and music culture to the European audience.

On that day the 53th Indonesian Fair in Holland;called Tong Tong Fair;the

biggest Indonesian Fair in Holland with every year ca. 150.000 visitors;was opened with for instance the first of several performances of age-old ceremonial royal dance- and music performances.

It is known,that the Banjarmasin performances in this field are nowadays every genuine and not adapted to the so-called modern taste.

This real culture went directly into the heart of the European audience,because the audience showed a very enthousiatic reaction to it.

Sultan Khairul Saleh of Banjarmasin;also the bupati of Banjar,is already for more than 10 years very busy is trying to revive the Banjarmasin culture in general and the royal culture in special.In that he is very succesfull.He is now also busy in trying to resurrect the last having existed sultan's palace of Banjarmasin.

His total project to promote Indonesian culture in Europe was reasonable effective;also because European people are espacially interested in the old culture and history of Indonesia.

The emeralds,diamonds,original still existing culture,history and culinary traditions were the aspects of Banjarmasin in this promotion project.

Banjarmasin has the potention to become a sort of 2nd Yogjakarta of tourism.

I should add another important aspect of Banjarmasin:honest religious. which not makes them a fundamentalistic people,but a people with love in their heart.

Many people in the world call the Banjarmasin people:the people with love in their heart.

The sultan tried in Holland also to contact the diamondmuseum in Amsterdam(Amsterdam is one of the major diamond business towns in the world and Banjarmasin is the most important diamond and the like areas of Indonesia), the national Holland organisation of nobility(to exchange experiences between Indonesian royalty and European nobility)and cultural institutes.

Besides the sultan and his cultural and royal delegation of 60 people(including his sultana,crownprince,daughter and younger brother),also Pangeran Paku Alam IX of Pakualaman in the Yogjakarta area sended a royal cultural delegation to the Tong Tong Fair.

They also left behind a big impression,which will last because during the whole TTF they will give until 5 june several performances;like the royal Banjarmasin dance- and music group.

It is good to know,that people like Sultan Khairul Saleh of Banjarmasin has now discovered,that half of the potensi of the Indonesian areas for tourism lies in presenting true and original (royal)culture to f.i. the European visitors and in their own areas trying to be strong to stimulate the performance of it.

In the so-called global modern world the people are more and more seeking for local real traditional culture,which contains more the heart and the love of the people.

We shall keep on following the good ideas and projects of Indonesian kings like Sultan Khairul Saleh of Banjarmasin;the bupati of Banjar,who only tries to use the by God given talents to show the pleasure for live in his own general and royal culture.

I. Festivana

D.P. Tick gRMK

The government accused snatched Rights Siak Sultanate Grant Heir

Sultan Syarif Kasim II

Siak - Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura, has long been a vacuum since Indonesia's independence. Sultan Syarif Kasim II as the last king had long passed away. But now, the treasure he left behind that is the Palace became seizure Limas Siak District Government, and the heirs of the sultan.

What exactly happens with the estate of Siak Sultanate? Siak Palace still stands majestically as mute witness to the triumph of historical evidence of the Sultanate of Siak. The palace is situated in the middle of Siak Sri Indrapura city, capital of Siak Regency. Siak name, which comes from Kesulatanan Siak kingdom was also immortalized the name of the district.

In history, the Sultanate of Siak has lineage to the kings of the 12th Sultan Syarif Kasim II as the last king. Asset kingdom which still stands on the banks of the river classy it is palace of Siak Siak. On the right the palace, there Limas Palace that used to as a resting place of Sultan Syarif Kasim II who also earned his degree as a national hero.

Limas Palace stands on approximately 2,000 m2 of land with old building area of ​​about 800 m2. This small palace which is now a bone of contention between Pemkab Siak with stepchildren heirs of Sultan Syarif Kasim II.

Pemkab Siak, accused the family heirs against the law. Basically, the government based on Law No. 5 of 1992 on Cultural Property and Government Regulation No. 6 of 2006 concerning the processing of state property / area. In addition, Pemkab Siak also sued heirs with benchmark Permendagri No. 17 of 2007 concerning the Technical Guidelines for Processing of local property.

"I do not believe it, Pemkab Siak sue us as heirs who occupy Palace Limas. We considered those who oppose the law. The law which our opponent. We occupy this house according to the letter of the sultan grants," said Hashim Syaed stepchild sultan in conversation with the AFP on Thursday (29/04/2001).

Siak Sultanate of property disputes is also now underway in the District Court (PN) Siak. Siak Regency determined to ask the beneficiary to come out of the Palace Limas. In fact, says Hashim, before the Sultan Syarif Kasim II's death, has issued an advance grant for children's stepfather. The letter was issued sultan grants on May 25, 1968.

In a letter of grant, No. B/1/135 / Religion Court when it referred to the Sharia Court of First Level of Pekanbaru, the sultan had donated his property, including property that is the sultan's parents Kasim Sultan Sharif I. The letter explained the grant, Limas Palace handed over to her step children.

Still according to the story of Sultan Hashim stepchild, the letter was supported by grants Derektorat Religious Court in Jakarta on 1 November 1968. In the letter, explained the grant letter issued by the sultan is valid according to the provisions of legislation.

"The letter was actually legalized grants and signed by the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Religious Affairs Judiciary namely A HZA Nuch. Basic grant letter is to occupy us survive what has been granted our stepfather. But why Siak Government is blaming our people against the law. We are our father's legacy into homes, according to the letter which also grants legal force, "said Hashim.

"We have 50 years in that house, we even shared with the sultan during his lifetime. Kok casually even our fellow accused the government party that is against the law," said Hashim.

Sultan Stepchildren

Regarding the Sultan of Siak stepchild, is not much recorded by history. Sultan Syarif Kasim II listed only married twice. But actually, the sultan had 4 times the wedding. As told by Hashim, originally Sultan Syarif Kasim Sarifah Latifah gain from the Sultanate of Deli, Medan. But in 1929, Sarifah died without leaving descendants. Furthermore, the sultan married the sister of his wife, Tengku Fadhlon.

"His second wife was divorced sultan, as leaving the sultan. His second wife was married to Tengku Mahmud. From this second marriage, the sultan also had no children," said Haysim.

Sultan re-married for the third time with Syariefah Syifah, but got divorced without having children. Sultan married a fourth time, with Syariefah Fadhlun on February 17, 1957 in the Office of Religious Affairs Kampung Melayu, Jatinegara, Jakarta. At that time, the sultan had no longer reigns. Syariefah is a widow with four of Syarief Soud, Syariefah Faizah, Syaed Hashim, Syaed Lukman.

"Although we were a stepchild, but we've seen a child of their sultan. We live in peace with our father who at the end of his life falling into poverty. The evidence we have as children kandunganya, we received a grant from the sultan's treasure one of Limas Palace which is now controlled by the local government would Siak, "said Hashim Syaed.

By Sultan Hashim did escape the attention of the government so that all of life deficiencies. Whereas said Hashim, the Sultan had donated 3 million Gulden and gold three bushels to the Soekarno government to fund the struggle. Even until the Sultan was his wife who accompanied the sick to Singapore. From there the Sultan moved on the island of Padang, a small group of islands around the island of Batam. Sultan lived poor and sick at the end of his life. This is his fourth wife who always take care to die world sultan ago 23 April 1968. As a form of love for his fourth wife, Sultan Hashim passed by the Palace that is now Limas fuss with Pemkab Siak.

"We brought to justice, Siak Government regarded as being against the law. But we stayed in a house relics of the sultan, based on letters that he remove the heir during his lifetime," said Syaed.

Donald
Festivi

Document and Picture was taken from www.detik.com
(http://www.detiknews.com/read/2011/04/29/174204/1628847/10/pemerintah-dituding-rampas-hak-hibah-ahli-waris-kesultanan-siak).

THE PEOPLE OF TOLITOLI STILL LOVES IT'S DYNASTY

H. Moh. Anwar Bantilan

Since the decentralisation laws in 1999 in Indonesia several dynasties here not only came back culturally and socially,but several also still seemed to have still strong contacts with their people and were seen as for instance strong identification points for their people and were trusted to be good local rulers.

Of course many dynasties in Indonesia then tried to also to function again politically,but not many for instance present day nominal rajas were succesfull in that. The problem is, that after the Second World War the raja dynasties were a bit seen (but not was) merely to be the aid of the colonial power Holland and also a rajaship was not democratic enough. So theye were pushed aside a bit and at the present time still must be rooted more in the present day political life.

Later the peoples also found out,that the rajasystems had not only it's disdavantages,but also their advantages as being the cultural centre for the local identity and also, when the moral values were used in a good way,had also a sort of democracy in itself and also a listening ear of the raja, or sultan, who could act as a father of his people.
So then it was found, that the modern system and the traditional system could exist next to each other and could enrich each other.

The only really permamant example of a raja,who also was a local highest ruler is in the Yogjakarta special province. Because of the role the former sultan of Yogjakarta and the pangeran of Pakualaman played in the independence struggle they were awarded by a heriditary governor- and sub-governorship.
Of course we also have examples of high princes and even dynastychiefs, who could obtain the local highest rulership. Like in Bima on Sumbawa, where the sultan is also the bupati, or in Banjar(masin), where the chief of the dynasty is also the bupati.
Similar exapmples can be seen in SE Bali recently (kabupaten Badung and the city government of Denpasar), or in the Kabupaten Donggala,where until his death in 2006 the mokole of Banawa was also the bupati.

But only in the area of Tolitoli in Middle-Sulawesi/Sulawesi Tengah the local dynasty plays a similar role in the local government as we can see in the Yogjakarta area.
The Bantilan dynasty of Tolitoli still plays a strong role in the local government.The present bupati;Prince Haji Mohammad Saleh Bantilan;is the son of the present raja:Raja Haji Mohammad Anwar Bantilan.

The story about this remarkable, but outside Indonesia not very known dynasty is like this.
The raja dynasty of Tolitoli (the name derived from a local word meaning three, because the area was formed as a principality by three living peoples here) already ruled here during not a few centuries and delivered in total 28 rulers (the area was also ruled further for short times by regents coming from outside the dynasty).
It all began with Dattu Amas,who was the first ruler of the major people in the Tolitoli area.In the early 19th century a certain Timumun more unified the area and took the name Sultan Jamalul Alam (also known as Sultan Janggu Bantilan Syariful Alam Syah (later the rulers of Tolitoli did not use much often the sultan's title). He is een as a sort of founder of the ruling dynasty in it's present form.
The dynasty already had for a long time a close relationship with the nearby lying principality of Buol;sometimes even a raja of Tolitoli was also a raja of Buol.
The turbulence in the political atmosphere arose,when the greatgrandson of Sultan Jamalul Alam;Raja Haji Abdul Hamid Bantilan(ruling from 1867) died end may 1905.
His son Raja Muda Tegelan Muhammad Ali Bantilan was then already selected as the crownprince, but was considered then to young to become raja.
An uncle then ruled for 13 years.In 1918 the political atmosphere was then a bit changed and the raja said, that he only wanted to abdicate, when his son could become his succesor.There were then 3 pretenders.That son was however killed in 1919.Before he was chief of the local branch of the nationalistic organisation Sarekat Islam, but for the harmony in the area, he gave up that function.The S.I. however then gave a honourary presidency of this S.I. branch to the crownprince, who was still considered by a big part of the people as the actual heir to the throne.
The killed raja (or better chief of the ruling council) had before convinced the crownprince to, lay down his claim for the sake of harmony in Tolitoli.
In may 1919;before the regent was killed, there was a proposal to make the crownprince anyway the raja,but when in a Sarekat Islam incident the regent was killed, Holland did not find it a good idea to go on with the idea of making the crownprince the raja, because of his honourary chief function of the local S.I. and probably more involvements in the local political play.
So then a brother of the regent ruled as raja until he abdicated in 1926.
The crownprince already had died in 1923. Then the eyes of the people and the local Dutch government officials fell on his nephew Prince Mohammad Yahya Bantilan. He was made raja in 1926, but after 3 years it was decided to depose him, because he was considered to be to much nationalistic for the harmony in Tolitoli.
Then the rule was done by a colonial official from outside,who ruled until he was killed in 1942 during some political troubles with a nationalistic atmosphere. Then the Japanese occupation force invited the ex-raja Moh. Yahya Bantilan back to become raja again. In that period he was known as a very nationalistic ruler.
When Holland came back the raja was deposed for a 2nd time.
At that time the nationalistic emotions were very high, but the people were a bit tired of all the struggle and only wanted harmony back in Tolitoli.
A local influential family;Pusadan;then delivered 2 rulers for Tolitoli (regents).
The ex-raja still had a big symphaty in Tolitoli, so on 12-1-1957 he was proclaimed the official traditional (nominal) raja of Tolitoli;so the royal symbol for Tolitoli;as a thanks for his constant nationalistic struggle.

In the modern time Tolitoli and Buol formed a kabupaten(district)together, but in 1999 the central Indonesian governement allowed, that Tolitoli became a seperate kabupaten.
Because of the role Raja Mohammad Yahya Bantilan like the sultan of Yogjakarta had played before, in and after the 2nd World War for the nationalistic cause and because he had always inspirated his in 1942 born oldest son Prince Haji Mohammad Maruf Bantilan to be a good and wise ruler, the reputation of this son was then quite strong in Tolitoli.
In the same year of the decentralisation in 1999,which also meant more freedom for the dynasties to think about installing their own dynastychief again, there was also an election for the bupati of the new kabupaten Tolitoli.Prince Marif bantilan also had worked hard for a seperate kabupaten of Tolitoli. At that time he was also the heir of the raja title of Tolitoli.
But because he wanted to serve his people as bupati, he decided to campaign for the bupati function and gave the raja dignity to his uncle Raja Haji Mohammad Anwar Bantilan, who is still the present raja.
Prince Maruf Bantilan won the bupati election and in 2005 again, so he ruled as bupati until 2010.
His quality as a dedicated ruler already had spread over the province of Middle Sulawesi/Sulawesi Tengah, so he decided now to try to serve his province as a governor.
His cousin;the in 1959 born Prince Mohammad Saleh Bantilan;the son of the present raja, also had the ambition to serve his people as bupati and he already was known then as chief of the local parliament.
Prince Maruf Bantilan was a strong candidate for the governorship of Sulawesi Tengah,but just lost on 6 april 2011 against another strong candidate of the royal blood:Prince Longki Djanggola;a main descendant in the direct line of the mokole's of the important principality of Palu.
Prince Saleh Bantilan was chosen by his people as the new bupati of Tolitoli; an area of 4.079 km2 with in 2008 210.000 inhabitants.

We hope, that this dynasty will be able to serve it's people for a long time.

So help them God!

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I. Festivana