A dispute over damage to the grave of musician Djaduk Ferianto's father-in-law in Yogyakarta has been resolved through mediation. The head of the Wirobrajan Police Precinct, Kompol Arif Darmawan, said that Bernadetta Petra, the widow of the late Djaduk, and cemetery caretaker S have reached a settlement agreement after meeting last Wednesday.
The grave monument was damaged at the old Pakuncen cemetery in Wirobrajan. Petra discovered the damage to the grave monument when she came to pay her respects. According to Petra, the caretaker damaged the monument because she did not give money to the cemetery management, even though Petra claims she never met with them directly.
Both parties agreed on a cleaning fee payment as part of the settlement. Petra transferred Rp500,000 as money she considered a debt owed. The grave monument has been repaired and restored to its original condition.
Arif explained that the caretaker removed the monument because he wanted to meet with the heirs. The management of the old cemetery in the Pakuncen area is carried out by local residents on a hereditary basis, different from the Pakuncen cemetery complex which is under the management of the Yogyakarta City Government. Cemetery managers typically receive money from visitors voluntarily for cemetery cleaning and maintenance needs.
Petra hopes that similar disputes can be resolved through good communication. She also hopes that this incident will be an opportunity to clarify regulations regarding burial grounds, including rules for their use and management.
