T

he Yogyakarta Palace signed on Tuesday a new agreement to reclaim land in Gunung Kidul regency, sparking new tensions over the monarchy’s disputed land rights in the province.

Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono witnessed on Tuesday the signing of an agreement between the Yogyakarta Palace and the Gunung Kidul regency administration to document and clear land plots belonging to the sultan in the region, also known as sultan’s grounds.

The documentation of the land is awaiting the issuance of a local agrarian bylaw.

“This agreement is conducted for the first time between the two parties and could possibly be conducted in other regencies and municipalities,” said the sultan during his speech at the event in Gunung Kidul.

Through the agreement, which will last for five years, the Yogyakarta Palace authorizes the Gunung Kidul administration to document and even evict unlicensed structures built on the land with the help of police and military personnel.

The palace was represented by its asset manager, locally known as Pengageng Kawedanan Hageng Wahono Sartokriyo, KGPH Hadiwinoto, while the administration was represented by Regent Badingah.

A 2012 law on Yogyakarta’s special status authorizes the palace and Pakualaman Duchy to own land that is called sultan’s grounds (SG) and Pakualaman grounds (PAG). The law also enables the monarchs to claim land that has not been registered. In Yogyakarta, these special rights have been rejected by local residents, arguing that the 1960 Agrarian Law eliminated the palace’s land rights.

The sultan, who is considered a king to residents of Yogyakarta, said frequent use of SG was not reported to the palace.

“With the new agreement, a local regulation can order an eviction in [Gunung Kidul],” said Sultan.

The Yogyakarta Palace’s lawyer, Achiel Suyanto, said the agreement was in line with the 2012 law. He said some of the land plots registered as SG were currently in the process of attaining certificates from the National Land Agency (BPN).

“This is the law’s mandate. The local administration does not even have to wait for a local bylaw to act,” he said.

Yogyakarta Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Arief Noor Hartanto said an agrarian bylaw was still important to elucidate the land documentation process. The local regulation could also synchronize the 2012 law and the 1960 law.

“The legislative and executive branches of the Yogyakarta administration as well as the residents should discuss this together,” he said.

Arief suggested that the Yogyakarta Palace guarantee the legal status of the land plots before moving any further as there was the potential that the agreement between the palace and the Gunung Kidul administration was illegal.

Amid the uncertainty, he said it was better for all involved parties to follow the recommendation of House of Representatives’ special committee on Yogyakarta’s special status, which stated that all parties should not act on issues related to land ownership.

“The agreement between the Yogyakarta Palace and the Gunung Kidul administration could trigger public controversy,” said Arief.

Among the land disputes in Gunung Kidul is one concerning land plots in Watukodok Beach. Conflict erupted after the palace gave management permits to investors and evicted residents.

On Monday, Bantul public order officials registered 57 households that had set up houses on Parangtritis Beach. They are also at risk of eviction as the lands are also claimed as SG.

Watin, one of the residents of Parangtritis, said he did not recognize SG since the concept was abolished by the Agrarian Law.

“We will fight back,” he said, responding to the possibility of evictions in the area. He and his family have lived there for 31 years.