John Wempi Wetipo

John Wempi Wetipo (born 15 September 1972) is an Indonesian politician from Papua. He is currently serving as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, being appointed in 2022. Previously he served as Deputy Minister of Public Works and Housing from 2019 until 2022 and as the Regent of Jayawijaya Regency for two terms between 2008 and 2018. He participated in the 2018 Papua gubernatorial election, but lost to incumbent Lukas Enembe.

John Wempi Wetipo
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
In office 15 June 2022 – 20 October 2024
President	Joko Widodo
Minister	Tito Karnavian
Succeeded by	Bima Arya Sugiarto Ribka Haluk
3rd Deputy Minister of Public Works and Housing
In office 25 October 2019 – 15 June 2022
President	Joko Widodo
Minister	Basuki Hadimuljono
Preceded by	Hermanto Dardak (2009–2014)
Succeeded by	Vacant
Regent of Jayawijaya
In office 18 December 2008 – 18 December 2018
Preceded by	Nicolas Jigibalom
Succeeded by	John Richard Banua
Personal details
Born	(1972-09-15) 15 September 1972 (age 52) Hulekaima, Jayawijaya, Irian Jaya, Indonesia
Political party	PDI-P

Background

He was born on 15 September 1972 in the kampung of Hulekaima in the Maima district of Jayawijaya Regency. Coming from the Dani tribe, he is the only son of Habel Wetipo and did his basic education in missionary schools. Later, he moved to Jayapura for his highschool. After completing basic education, he studied for 3 years in Manado's Tourism Academy. Later, he graduated from a bachelor's and a master's program at Cenderawasih University.^[1][2]

Career

Wetipo began working as a civil servant in 1996, and later became the head of the tourism agency for the regency.^[3] He later participated in the regency's first direct election in 2008 and won, being sworn in on 24 December 2008.^[4]

As regent, Wetipo initiated the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, intended to draw tourists to the otherwise remote regency.^[5] He received an award from the Corruption Eradication Commission for wealth reporting and from the Ministry of Finance for financial management in Jayawijaya.^[6] He was reelected in 2013 with over 91 percent of the votes.^[7]

In 2018, Wetipo ran for the governorship of Papua. During the proceedings, he was accused of falsifying his degree, but the KPU rejected the suit.^[8] He would lose to incumbent Lukas Enembe, securing only 32.5 percent of the votes.^[9] After the results were announced, Wetipo went to the Constitutional Court, but his case was rejected.^[10]

Wetipo was appointed as the Deputy Minister for Public Works of Housing under the Onward Indonesia Cabinet of Joko Widodo's second term.^[11] On Joko Widodo's 4th ministerial reshuffle, Wetipo is reappointed as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs on 15 June 2022.^[12]

References

1. "DAFTAR RIWAYAT HIDUP CALON GUBERNUR" (PDF). kpu.go.id (in Indonesian). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
2. "Mengenal Sosok John Wempi Wetipo". lintaspapua.com (in Indonesian). 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
3. Priliawito, Eko (27 June 2018). "Pilkada Papua, Perang Kandidat dengan Karier Politik Moncer". VIVA (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 September 2018.
4. "Pelantikan Bupati Wamena Periode 2008-2013". jayawijayakab.go.id (in Indonesian). 24 December 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
5. "Profil John Wempi Wetipo". tirto.id. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
6. Kuwado, Fabian Januarius (12 January 2018). Wedhaswary, Inggried Dwi (ed.). "Fakta Seputar Pilkada Papua". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
7. "JOJON KEMBALI PIMPIN JAYAWIJAYA HINGGA 2018". Tabloid Jubi (in Indonesian). 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
8. "KPU Papua: John Wempi Wetipo Sah Sebagai Calon Gubernur Papua". Kabar Papua (in Indonesian). 4 March 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
9. "PENETAPAN HASIL :: PILKADA PROVINSI PAPUA". Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
10. Isidorus, Robert (13 August 2018). "MK Menangkan Lukas Enembe". Berita Satu (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
11. Gorbiano, Marchio Irfan (25 October 2019). "BREAKING: Jokowi announces 12 new deputy ministers to assist Cabinet". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
12. Wardani, Diah Ayu (15 June 2022). Fernandez, Wem (ed.). "Legitimate! Jokowi Officially Inaugurates Wempi Wetipo, Afriansyah Noor, And King Juli Antoni As Deputy Ministers". VOI.id. Retrieved 15 June 2022.