Chief Justice Anwar Usman welcoming Majelis Adat Kerajaan Nusantara (MAKN), Thursday (8/11/2021) at the Meeting Room. Photo by Humas MK/Panji.

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Thursday, August 11, 2022 | 16:25 WIB

JAKARTA (MKRI)—The Constitutional Court’s (MK) Chief Justice Anwar Usman, Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto, Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat, and Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah welcomed Majelis Adat Kerajaan Nusantara (MAKN) on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

“MAKN intends to cooperate with the Constitutional Court. We would like to participate in national development, because at the beginning we all participated but, in the process, we felt left out. Of course, there is confusion or anxiety among all of us because… basic values or original cultural values have begun to be sidelined, then entered other cultures that are not compatible with ours. Of course, we are not skeptical to the development of the times, but it would be wonderful if we could organize our lives together in managing this development. We would like to have a unified perspective that is integrated with our constitutional system and participate [in national development],” said chairman KPH Eddy S. Wirabhumi.

He was accompanied by MAKN management: DRA Koes Moertiyah, RA Yani WSS Kuswodijoyo, KRAY Sri Tapi, KRT Sugito, Munif Prasojo, TB Amri Wardana, Kemas Herman, Pahala Sagala, and Raden Sudiyanto. He added that the MAKN would like to an honorary award or appreciation to Chief Justice Anwar Usman, Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto, Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat.

Justice Arief Hidayat revealed that Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution recognizes indigenous peoples. “Indigenous peoples are recognized in [one of] the Constitutional Court’s decisions. It requires the state to preserve the cultures of the kingdoms of the archipelago because the Indonesian nation was born from [those kingdoms], which agreed to live together within the modern Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia that is based on Pancasila,” he said.

Justice Arief said the Court has the duty, function, and authority to guard the Constitution pursuant to Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution. He added that this 4.0 Era brought challenges and restrictions in the life of the nation, which could eliminate the kingdoms of Indonesia. He hoped that the MAKN could collaborate with the Constitutional Court to preserve the customs, traditions, arts and cultural heritage of Indonesia and receive state protection.

“The Constitutional Court has the same vision and mission as MAKN. We can develop the country together by maintaining sovereignty and existing cultures,” he said.

The MAKN is an association of existing kingdoms in Indonesia, declared in August 2019 by 36 declarators. It serves to maintain, preserve, develop, and protect the customs, traditions, arts and culture of the ancestral heritage of the Indonesian kingdoms.

Writer        : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Nur R.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 8/16/2022 14:46 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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