J

an. 7, 2016

RM Wijoseno Hario Bimo aka Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo (KGPH) Suryodilogo was officially crowned Pakualaman leader with a reigning title of Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya (KGPAA) Paku Alam X in a coronation ceremony held at Sewatama meeting hall at the Pakualaman complex in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

He replaced his father, KGPAA Paku Alam IX, who passed away on Nov. 22.

In the coronation ceremony, KGPH Suryodilogo was installed as the highest ruler of Pakualaman after the Kyai Bontit, an heirloom kris (dagger), was pinned to him.

In the ceremony, the 53-year-old stood before his throne, which is located at the northern tip of the Sewatama hall, before sitting upon it, surrounded by various heirloom weapons.

Your comments

How many minor principalities does Indonesia actually still have '€” I mean areas in which those regents automatically assume public offices usually meant to be occupied by democratically elected people?

GF

To be honest, it'€™s a ridiculous practice to allow those with no qualifications whatsoever to rule. And the public accepts it, that'€™s something even more amusing. It'€™s a principality within a republic.

SIM

No, it'€™s not ridiculous. The sultans rule with dignity and honesty rarely seen anywhere else in Indonesia. They take care of the province well, and even the Special Province of Yogyakarta scored highest in terms of provincial performance in 2015.

I was born in West Java, yet I went to college in Yogya. At first I also thought the practice was outdated, yet the sultans took care of the citizens much better than the celebrities and corrupted people elected to the House of Representatives, enabled by votes of mostly uneducated people of Indonesia in this democracy system.

Lala Indischa

Yet the people of Yogya and Surakarta widely accept the idea of having someone not elected in a democratic way, not sure if rulers actually care about their citizens anyhow. I'€™ve been to Yogya a couple of times, and not so much has developed, same as other regions across this country.

If they functioned as a symbol like the Queen of England, then it would be okay. But they still wield power; such an outdated system is not only weird, but non-functional as well.

Simba1991