Filep Wamafma is a House of Representatives member elected to represent the electoral district of West Papua in the 2019 elections.
He was born on June 14, 1978, in Biak, Irian Jaya. Filep Wamafma married Yuliana Delila Marini and has four children.
Filep Wamafma as Head of STIH Manokwari for 2 Terms
He completed his doctoral degree at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) Makassar. He served as Chair of STIH Manokwari for 2 consecutive terms.
Filep Wamafma has been a lecturer at STIH Manokwari since 2004. His career then rose to become Deputy Chair II in 2007 and Deputy Chair I in 2008.
In 2014, he returned to the academic world to become Acting Head of STIH Manokwari until 2015. He became Chair of STIH Manokwari for the 2015-2019 period. Then he holds the same position for the 2019-2023 period.
Filep as a Politician
In the 2009-2014 period, Filep Wamafma became a Member of the General Election Commission (KPU) for West Papua Province and concurrently served as an Acting Member of the KPU for Raja Ampat and Tambrauw Regencies.
Furthermore, Filep Wamafma represented the electoral district of West Papua in the 2019 elections.
Then on August 19, 2021, this West Papuan senator served as Deputy Chair of Committee 1 DPD RI.
Then, he became Chair of the Papua Special Committee to the RI DPD Working Team on the agenda for the Revision of the Special Autonomy Law.
The presence of this West Papua Senator has indeed given its own color to the political upheaval in the homeland, especially regarding fundamental problems in Papua.
The West Papua Senator’s struggle is very strategic, especially regarding the existence of the new Special Autonomy Law.
This is in line with the birth of the new Special Autonomy Law, which is also part of the services of Filep Wamafma and colleagues, who were previously on Committee I DPD RI
Filep Wamafma as a Senator
Senator Filep Wamafma is active in advocating for policies. Filep often reacts strongly to findings, indications of violations, and injustice of the basic rights of indigenous peoples.
He supports law enforcement against lawbreakers to not harm the goals and implementation of government policies for the people.
Among other things, Filep Wamafma reacted strongly when President Joko Widodo signed a Presidential Regulation regarding investment in the alcohol industry.
The licensing regulations are listed in Appendix III of a copy of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector in the four designated regions, such as Papua, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Sulawesi.
As a regional representative, Filep Wamafma emphasized his commitment and alignment with the rights of indigenous peoples in West Papua.
He supports the Regent of Sorong, Johny Kamuru, for his action in revoking the permits of 3 problematic palm oil companies. This case is a strong indication of the existence of covert palm mafias who are suspected of working with certain officials.
The Sorong Regent, Kamuruu, then confronted the law because the palm oil company sued him. So Filep encourages all components of society to build strength as a form of solidarity against injustice.
He also asked the West Papua provincial government to participate in providing advocacy and assistance for the Sorong Regent, which is fighting for the rights of indigenous peoples against injustice.
The role, career, and work of Filep Wamafma above show his nationalist and visionary character. He embodied his commitment to side with the lives of Indigenous Papuans in the efforts he fought for constitutionally for the realization of humanity, justice, and people’s welfare.