On April 13, 2022, an alliance of communities on behalf of the Papua Care Community’s Communication Forum (or Forum Komunikasi Masyarakat Peduli Papua or FKMPP) held a sympathetic action at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Building (Gedung Kemendagri) in the morning. The peaceful action was a form of moral appeal for support from the people of West Papua to vote for Commissioner-General Paulus Waterpaw as Acting Governor of their province.
Who is he, and why would people like him to be the Acting Governor of West Papua?
All About Paulus Waterpaw and According to Benny Maran
Commissioner General of Police (Retired) Drs. Paulus Waterpaw was born on October 25, 1963 in Fakfak, Papua. Waterpaw moved to Surabaya, East Java, with his family when he was ten. He is a retired Indonesian National Police Officer. He has served as Deputy for Management of Potential Border Areas of BNPP since October 21, 2021.
He graduated from the Police Academy in 1987. After graduating from Sespim, Waterpaw returned to his homeland and was trusted to serve as the Mimika Police Chief. During his time there, there had been intense tribal wars.
Waterpaw has had experiences in the fields of intelligence. His last position in the police force for this three-star general was the Head of the Intelligence and Security Agency of The Police.
Waterpaw was also the Commander of the Ceremony at the Commemoration Ceremony of the 61st Independence Day of The Republic of Indonesia on August 17, 2006, at the Merdeka Palace – back when his role was still the Great Commissioner (Komisaris Besar or Kombes).
Not long after serving in Timika, the conflicts between two residents there subsided. Waterpaw was then trusted to serve as the Jayapura Police Chief. According to the Telegram Letter of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Tito Karnavian, ST/1408/VI/2017, as of June 2, 2017, Paulus Waterpaw served as the Head of the North Sumatra Regional Police.
Paulus Waterpaw has received many service marks to acknowledge and appreciate his dedication to what he has done and still does. He has received two Bhayangkara Stars (Pratama and Nararya), three Satyalancana Kesetiaan (VIII, XVI, and XXIV), Satyalancana Jalan Utama, Satyalancana Ksatria Bhayangkara, Satyalancana Karya Bakti, Satyalancana Bhakti Nusa, Satyalancana Dharma Nusa, Satyalancana Operasi Kepolisian, Satyalancana GOM IX, and Satyalancana Dwidya Sistha.
According to the chairman of FKMPP, Marthen Benny Maran, Paulus Waterpaw is just the right man for the position. Maran stated that Waterpaw is a general with many experiences and who also understands the Papuan characteristics very well. Waterpaw is also a native West Papuan himself and a source of pride and joy among his people in the province.
“We are grateful for Commissioner-General Paulus Waterpaw, an echelon 1 Papuan official at the central office if he can get that position,” Maran pressed. Waterpaw has also been considered a suitable candidate, since he has also fulfilled an awe-inspiring career path in the police force.
According to Maran, Waterpaw has also served as a Regional Police Chief four times. This means he is more than qualified to understand almost everything about Papua and West Papua. Other good qualities that Maran sees in Waterpaw include: him being highly dedicated, full of integrity, caring, responsive, and very populist.
In terms of the appointment of the Acting Governor as regulated in The Law Number 10/2016, Article 201, Verse 9 (Undang-undang Nomor 10/2016, Pasal 201, Ayat 9), it is an absolute authority of the President of The Republic of Indonesia (in this case, Joko Widodo), on the proposal of the Minister of Home Affairs.
Therefore, his party issued moral support and appeal so that Paulus Waterpaw could become the Acting Governor of West Papua.
A Response From Benny Irwan Regarding The Suggestion from FKMPP
Meanwhile, Benny Irwan, the Head of the Information Centre (Kepala Pusat Penerangan or Kapuspen), expressed his appreciation for FKMPP’s peaceful demonstration which they had held. They conveyed their aspirations in an orderly, timely, and procedural manner. This organization could set a good example for other organizations when doing the same.
“I accept the aspiration submitted by the institution, and it will be submitted to the Minister of Home Affairs,” Benny Irwan promised them. He then also explained that other parties wished to extend their terms of office or regional heads. Unfortunately for them, that could not be made possible.
“There has been a suggestion that the regional head continues their term of office as Acting Position. However, it cannot be done since that will be against the law,” Irwan added. “It is not regulated.”
FMKPP has a lot of faith that Paulus Waterpaw will bring something much better for the future of West Papua. Hopefully, if possible, Waterpaw will become what the West Papuans aspire him to be. If that can turn the province into a better fate, why not?
