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!

D.P. Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

INDONESIAN KING MAKES NEW WORLD RECORD(TERNATE)

On the 3rd of april 2011 an extraordinary thing happened near the palace
of an Indonesian king:he made a world record!
Also the first time,that an Indonesian king made a world record.On that day
the charismatic Sultan Mudafar Syah II of Ternate(full title:Sultan Drs.
Mudafar Syah II Masjur Kamo Lano;king since 1975;one of the first kings,who
dared to come forward again fully as a king in modern tme Indonesia)had asked
his people to perform the traditional local dances before his palace at one
time all together to express the gratitude,that he became 76 years on that
day.
Already the sultan of Ternate was known for his courage to perform certain
matters before;really become internationally known a such,when he was in
1987 one of the first of the 300 Indonesian monarchs,who dared to let fully
do the coronation ceremonies for his coronation;a thing before considered
as an unwanted thing from the past.
This year again Sultan Mudafar Syah II organised the Legu Kam royal festival;
a festival taking place from the 1st to the 15th april;celebrating his birthday.
This festival was reorganised since some years,being also a major touristic
happening in the North-Moluccans.
The sultan wanted to do something special now,so he could make it happen,that
on 3 april 2011 8.200 of his people danced at one time for him all in the
clothes of servants of the royal court;partly accompagnied by in the same
royal court manner dressed traditional musicians.All taking place on the
field before the royal palace.
When the dance was finished and all the number of people participating in
the dance were controlled,the sultan and his sultana Dra. Nita Budhi Susanti
Syah could receive an official document from a to the Guiness Book of Records
attached official,that the Sultan of Ternate had broken a world record for
dancing with such a hugue amount of people at one time.
This matter also made a strong point of identity of the Ternate people towards
their king and a good promotion of the North-Moluccan culture internationally.

With thanks to Gusti Maulana of the royal court of Ternate to give us this
information.

D.P. Tick gRMK
Festivi

GRANDSON LAST RULING KING OF PALU BECOMES GOVERNOR OF MIDDLE SULAWESI

Again the present need of Indonesian people to see their need for their local
identity fullfilled again happened on 6 april 2011.Then His Highness Prince
Drs. Haji Longki Djanggola;MSi of Palu,bupati of Parigi Moutong from 2008,was
elected as the new governor of Middle Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tenggah).
Befoe that he was already a settled and experienced politician.
He is coming from the direct line of the magau(raja)dynasty of Palu.
He is the son of Prince Yoto Djanggola,who is the oldest son of Magau Djanggola,who
ruled 19218-died 1945.A son of a younger brother of this raja then was ruling
for a while.The father of Magau Djanggola was Prince Lapariusi,who was the
oldest son of Magau Yojokodi Tomesiema,who ruled 1876-1906.Because Prince
Lapariusi was sick at the time his father died,his younger brother Parampasi
ruled n his place.
The line Magau Yojokodi can be drawn back more generations.Sometimes a sideline
ruled for a while.
One of the fellow candidates of the governorship of Sualwesi Tengah is another
royal bupati of this area:Drs. Haji Mohammad Maruf Bantilan;son of the last
ruling Magau of Toli Toli;MagauHaji Mohammad Yahya Bantilan(1926-29,1944-46,
1957-19..).Although he gave the raja title to his uncle Magau Haji Anwar
Bantilan,because of his political career,he is the actual magau of Toli Toli
and very popular in his area.

Hopefully the new governor will rule with wisdom.

DP Tick gRMK
I. Festiviana