Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Yogyakarta Palace (Keraton Yogyakarta) has filed a lawsuit against Indonesia’s state-owned railway company, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), in the Yogyakarta District Court, over a disputed land ownership claim. The palace is seeking for Rp1,000 (approximately $0.06) as compensation, arguing that the land in question, currently registered as a KAI asset, legally belongs to the Sultanate of Yogyakarta but was allegedly wrongfully claimed by the railway company.
The palace clarified that the lawsuit is not a land grab but an effort to compel KAI to adhere to existing legal frameworks. The Sultanate claims rightful ownership of land surrounding Yogyakarta’s iconic Tugu Train Station, which has been registered as part of KAI’s corporate assets. The palace is asking the court to formally acknowledge its ownership rights.
Heri, a spokesperson for the Yogyakarta District Court, confirmed that the lawsuit was officially filed on October 22, 2024. The case was initiated by GKR Condrokirono, who serves as Penghageng Kawedanan Hageng Panitrapura, a key administrative office within the Yogyakarta Palace, functioning similarly to a state secretariat.
“The legal proceedings are currently underway, with the first hearing having taken place on October 29,” Heri stated as reported by DetikJogja. “The next hearing is set for November 12, focusing on summoning the involved parties.”
GKR Condrokirono, who is leading the lawsuit on behalf of the palace, explained that the dispute revolves around land traditionally owned by the Sultanate. The lawsuit also involves several other government entities, including the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), the Yogyakarta Land Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Transportation.
The palace’s legal claim is based on Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2017 regarding the management and utilization of Sultanate and Duchy lands, as well as Law No. 13 of 2012, which outlines the special status of Yogyakarta. PT KAI is listed as the primary defendant, while the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the National Land Agency (BPN) of Yogyakarta, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Transportation are included as co-defendants.
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Addressing media speculation, GKR Condrokirono emphasized that the Sultanate’s actions are not aimed at displacing PT KAI. “The issue with PT KAI should not be overblown. The Sultanate is not attempting to reclaim land currently used by KAI as some reports suggest. The land historically belongs to the Sultanate,” she clarified.
In its lawsuit, the Yogyakarta Palace is requesting the court to rule in its favor, recognizing its ownership rights over the contested land at Tugu Station. The palace reiterated that its demand for a nominal compensation of Rp1,000 underscores its commitment to fairness and is not intended to burden the public.
“The symbolic demand for Rp1,000 highlights that the Sultanate is not imposing financial hardship on the people,” Condrokirono concluded.
The legal dispute has garnered significant attention, reflecting broader issues surrounding land rights and the governance of special autonomous regions like Yogyakarta.
(Raidi/Agung)
