T

he prolonged power struggle within the Surakarta sultanate may erupt after the team of five, or the Panca Narendra taskforce, set up by Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi has ordered 17 royal families of the Kasunanan Surakarta Palace to vacate the Kasunanan Palace.

However, as the initial deadline passed last Thursday, the families were still refusing to obey the order.

“We will enter the palace, whatever the risks are. We just need to decide on the timing,” Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi’s lawyer, Ferry Firman Nurwahyu, said on Saturday.

The instruction, signed by task force chairman Gusti Pangeran Haryo (GPH) Benowo, was issued as the palace is to be used for the ceremony of Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi’s crowning anniversary, or Tingalan Dalem Jumenengan, slated for April 15.

“On behalf of Pakubuwono XIII as the king of the palace we, the Panca Narendra taskforce, call and order you to physically leave the palace along with everything in it,” he said in the warrant.

The 17 royal families, or pengageng, include GRA Koes Murtiyah or GKR Wandansari (Gusti Moeng), KPH Eddy Wirabhumi, GPH Puger, BRM Sardiatmo Brotodiningrat, KRMH Satryo Hadinagoro, GKR Retno Dumilah, GKR Galuh Kencono and GKR Timur Rumbai Kusumadewayani.

“If the warrant is not obeyed, we will take legal action both in civil and criminal courts,” he said.

Responding, Eddy Wirabhumi, who is also executive chairman of the Surakarta Palace’s legal unit, questioned the legality of the warrant, arguing that the task force’s approach was also legally flawed.

“The legal process to test the task force’s legality is still going on. Do not rush. We all better respect the ongoing legal process,” Eddy said Wednesday.

“We are aware of the warrant from Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi. We hope everything can be settled through legal process,” he said. Eddy also announced that none of the 17 royal families mentioned in the warrant would leave the palace willingly. “If they come and try to forcefully evict us, we will face them,” he said.

Previously, the daughter of Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi, GKR Timoer Rumbai Dewayani Kusuma, and the grandchild of Pakubuwono XII, BRM Aditya Soerya Harbanu, filed a lawsuit against Pakubuwono XIII at the Surakarta District Court regarding the establishment of the task force.

Eddy also questioned the plan to hold the Tingalan Dalem Jumenengan as the crowning of Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi.

“The customary council has ordered Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi to step down. At present the palace is being led by an acting ruler. It’s legitimate according to customary law,” he said.

The internal crack within the customary kingdom has been ongoing for almost 10 years.

Last year, the two opposing camps held two separate events to commemorate the ascension of the late Pakubuwono XII to the Surakarta throne.

Gusti Moeng, held a party at the palace’s main hall, Sasana Sewaka, while Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi conducted a procession at his residence, Sasana Putra. Both claimed their own celebration to be the valid one, in line with tradition.

The rift between the two camps widened in 2014 when the traditional palace institution, chaired by Gusti Moeng, stripped Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi of his title as sultan and installed GPH Puger as acting sultan. Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi was deemed to have ignored the palace institution during a reconciliation process with KGPH Panembahan Agung Tedjowulan in 2012.