Keraton Solo Disorot, Government Facilitates Family Consultation After the Death of PB XIII

Government Facilitates Family Consultation After the Death of PB XIII (Doc. Ministry of Education)

Jakarta - The government has begun to intervene in the internal dynamics of the Solo Palace after the death of Pakubuwono XIII. The Ministry of Culture has facilitated the deliberations of the Surakarta Palace family to encourage stability, sustainable management, and preservation of the Solo Palace as a national cultural heritage.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon held a dialogue and social gathering with the great family of the palace in Jakarta, Saturday, December 13. This meeting was held about 40 days after the death of PB XIII and became an initial forum to absorb the aspirations of various parties related to the future of the Solo Palace.

The government invited all family members, including KGPH Purbaya, the wife of PB XIII, Panembahan Agung Tedjowulan as Maha Menteri, Chairman of the GKR Wandansari Adat Institution, Koes Moertiyah, and KGPH Hangabehi. However, KGPH Purbaya and the wife of PB XIII were not present at the meeting.

"We invite all parties. Only a few are present. In the future, the dialogue will continue so that the Solo Palace will be more conducive and preserved as a national cultural heritage," said Fadli Zon.

He emphasized that the role of the government was a facilitator. Family deliberation was the key to resolving the issue of successors, governance, and management of cultural assets in the Solo Palace environment. The government wants the palace not only to survive as a symbol of history, but to live as a sustainable cultural ecosystem.

Panembahan Agung Tedjowulan reminded that the Solo Palace had experienced a leadership duality after the PB XII, which was then mediated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to maintain the integrity of the palace.

Fadli Zon emphasized the importance of self-restraint and prioritizing the tradition of deliberation. For the time being, the dialogue process is facilitated by Panembahan Agung Tedjowulan as interim leader.

The government also encourages the revitalization of the Solo Palace with professional management. In 2025, the Ministry of Culture has facilitated the revitalization of the 18th century Songgo Buwono Stage and the Solo Palace Museum.

"Solo Palace must be a cultural guard, strong in tradition and managed in a modern way," said Fadli Zon.