Fientje Maritje Suebu

Fientje Maritje Suebu
Ambassador of Indonesia to New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and the Cook Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 January 2022
Preceded byTantowi Yahya
Personal details
BornSentani, Jayapura, Indonesia
EducationCenderawasih University
NicknameIce

Fientje Maritje Suebu is an Indonesian diplomat who is serving as the Indonesian ambassador to New Zealand, with concurrent accreditation to Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Cook Islands and Niue, since 12 January 2022. She is the first indigenuous Papuan woman to be appointed as ambassador.

Early life and education

Fientje Maritje Suebu was born in Sentani, Jayapura, as the only daughter among five sons of a tribal chief. Among her relatives, she is affectionately known as Ice.[1] She completed her high school education in Papua New Guinea and began studying English literature at the Cenderawasih University in 1981. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1985.[2][3]

Career

Suebu joined the foreign department (now the foreign ministry) shortly after graduating from university. Her initial motivation for joining the department was simply to relocate to Jakarta and secure employment, with no prior understanding of a diplomatic career.[1] Her stint began as a staff at the international directorate from July 1986 until June 1989.[2]

Her first international posting was at the embassy in Harare, where she served as second secretary for socio-cultural affairs from June 1989 to November 1993.[4] Upon her return to Jakarta, she was appointed as section chief in the directorate for Africa and the Middle East from November 1993 to July 1997.[2] She then became first secretary for political affairs at the embassy in Brussels from June 1997 to July 2001,[4] with accreditation on 9 August 1997.[5]

After her service in Brussels, she became deputy director (chief of sub-directorate) for American and European cooperation in the ministry from July 2001 to June 2004. Her career then led her to New Delhi where she served as minister counsellor at the embassy there from June 2004 to July 2008. Following this, she was appointed as the chief of administration and documentation in the directorate general for Asia, Pacific and Africa from July 2008 to July 2012.[2]

Suebu was assigned to the embassy in Ottawa as minister counsellor for information and socio-cultural affairs[6] from July 2012 to January 2016.[7] She returned to the foreign ministry with her assignment as a senior diplomat at the directorate for South and Central Asian affairs from February 2016 to February 2018.[2] In February 2018, she was appointed as deputy ambassador to India.[1][4][8]

Ambassador to New Zealand

In February 2021, Suebu was nominated by President Joko Widodo as ambassador to New Zealand, with concurrent accreditation to Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Cook Islands and Niue.[9] Her nomination was approved by the House of Representatives first commission after passing an assesment in July that year.[10] She was installed on 12 January 2022, becoming the first indigenuous Papuan woman to be appointed as ambassador.[8]

Suebu presents her credentials to Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro.

She presented her credentials to Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro on 22 February,[11] the Queen's Representative of the Cook Islands Tom Marsters on 11 May,[12] King of Tonga Tupou VI on 27 June,[13] Premier of Niue Dalton Tagelagi on 19 July,[14] and the O le Ao o le Malo Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II on 20 February 2023.[4] She is Indonesia's first ambassador to Niue[14] and Cook Islands.[12]

During his tenure, Suebu faced pleas for help from Papuan students in the country who had their scholarships from local autonomy governments revoked.[15] The students demanded an audience with President Joko Widodo.[16] Suebu later met with representatives of the students to discuss their demands.[17] According to Suebu, the revocation was based on a “thorough assessment” of academic progress initiated in 2017 and only those falling behind academically were being recalled. She denied any budget cuts being made by the provincial government.[18]

Personal life

Suebu is married to Philipus Sarwom, a reverend, and has three children.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Subakti, Erri, ed. (21 March 2018). "Ini Perempuan Papua Pertama yang Menjabat Wakil Kepala Perwakilan KBRI India" [First Papuan Woman Diplomat as Deputy Chief of Mission]. Peran Perempuan (in Indonesian).
  2. ^ a b c d e Sondang, Ester (12 January 2022). "Kisah Fientje Maritje Suebu, Perempuan Pertama yang Menjadi Duta Besar dari Papua" [The Story of Fientje Maritje Suebu, the First Female Ambassador from Papua]. theAsianparent Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  3. ^ Goodfellow, Rob (July 11, 2020). "Equality of opportunity matters". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Indonesian diplomat presents credentials". Samoa Observer. Government of Samoa. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  5. ^ européenne, Union européenne Commission (2001). Vademecum à l'usage du corps diplomatique: corps diplomatique accrédité auprès des Communautés européennes et représentations auprès de la Commission (in French). Office des publications officielles des Communautés européennes. p. 110. ISBN 978-92-894-0503-4.
  6. ^ "Embassy Staff". Indonesian in Ottawa. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  7. ^ Diplomatic, Consular & Other Representatives in Canada (PDF). Ottawa, Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). September 2012. p. 63. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b Septiari, Dian (January 12, 2022). "President swears in envoys to Sudan, the Philippines and New Zealand". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  9. ^ Ansaka, Kris (20 February 2021). "Fientje Suebu, Perempuan Papua Pertama Jadi Dubes RI" [Fientje Suebu, First Papuan Woman to Become Indonesian Ambassador]. New Guinea Kurir (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 April 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b Nugraheny, Dian Erika; Prabowo, Dani (12 January 2022). "Sosok Fientje Maritje Suebu, Perempuan Pertama Papua yang Jadi Dubes RI" [Figure of Fientje Maritje Suebu, First Papuan Woman to Become Indonesian Ambassador]. Kompas.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  11. ^ Dahono, Yudo (23 February 2022). "Bertugas, Duta Besar Selandia Baru Fientje Suebu Serahkan Surat Kepercayaan" [On Duty, New Zealand Ambassador Fientje Suebu Submits Letter of Credence]. BeritaSatu (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b Anggoro, Wahyu Dwi (12 May 2022). "Indonesian Ambassador Conducts Historic Visit to Cook Islands" [Indonesian Ambassador Conducts Historic Visit to Cook Islands]. Medcom.id. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  13. ^ Ayu, Tussie (28 June 2022). Putra, Edy A. (ed.). "Dubes Fientje Suebu Serahkan Surat Kepercayaan kepada Raja Tonga" [Ambassador Fientje Suebu Presents Letter of Credence to the King of Tonga]. Kompas TV (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  14. ^ a b Ayu, Tussie (20 July 2022). "Dubes Fientje Resmi Jadi Dubes Indonesia Pertama yang Serahkan Surat Kepercayaan untuk Niue" [Ambassador Fientje Officially Becomes the First Indonesian Ambassador to Present Credentials to Niue]. Kompas.tv (in Indonesian). Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  15. ^ Robie, David (13 April 2022). "Open letter to Minister Faafoi – an appeal to help 34 abandoned Papuan students". Asia Pacific Report. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  16. ^ Krishnamurthi, Sri (2 February 2022). "Papuan students want dialogue with Indonesian president Widodo". RNZ News. Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Papuan students form umbrella body, reaffirm campaign for education rights". Asia Pacific Report. 5 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Indonesia denies claims by Papuan students over education setback". Asia Pacific Report. Pacific Media Centre. 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
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