Bunyan Saptomo

Bunyan Saptomo
Ambassador of Indonesia to Bulgaria and Albania
In office
2 March 2012 – January 2016
PresidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Preceded byImmanuel Robert Inkiriwang
Succeeded bySri Astari Rasjid
Personal details
Born (1957-03-20) March 20, 1957
Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia
SpouseAprilia Bodriyati
Children1
Alma materGadjah Mada University (Drs.)
unknown (MA)
AwardsMadara Horseman, 1st class (2016)

Bunyan Saptomo (born 20 March 1957) is an Indonesian diplomat who had served in various positions, mostly relating to human rights and North America. He had been posted internally in the foreign ministry and human rights agencies of Indonesia, and abroad in Canberra, Hanoi, Vancouver, and Sofia. A Gadjah Mada University graduate, Bunyan's last post in the foreign service was as ambassador to Bulgaria and Albania from 2012 to 2016. He is currently serving as the head of the international relations division of the Indonesian Ulama Council.

Early life and education

Bunyan was born in Klaten, Central Java, on 20 March 1957.[1] From 1974 to 1976, he studied at a Muhammadiyah-owned high school in Klaten, where he joined the Muhammadiyah Students' Union. He closely followed the student unrest at the University of Malaya (UM) in 1974, which was led by the-then president of the Malaysian Youth Council Anwar Ibrahim.[2]

He began studying governance sciences at the Gadjah Mada University in 1977 and joined the Muslim Students' Association.[2] Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1981, Bunyan initially aspired to become a camat, or district head, in his hometown of Klaten, which was also the wish of his parents. However, he failled to pass the civil service entrance exam for the Klaten and Central Java regional government. He then moved to Jakarta and applied as a journalist for the Antara state news agency and in the foreign department.[3] He was accepted to the foreign department and completed his basic diplomatic education in 1984.[1]

Diplomatic career

Bunyan began his diplomatic service in 1986, serving as a staff in the political section at the Indonesian embassy in Canberra until 1989. He later served as the head of the information, social, and cultural field at the Indonesian embassy in Hanoi in 1994, followed by a posting as the head of the information field at the Indonesian embassy in Beijing from 1996 to 1998.[1]

Upon returning to Indonesia, Bunyan completed his mid-level diplomatic education in 1998 and senior diplomatic education in 1999. He was assigned in the foreign ministry as deputy director (chief of subdirectorate) for people's welfare cooperation in the directorate of social and cultural relations. Following the establishment of the state ministry for human rights by President Abdurrahman Wahid, Bunyan served in the ministry as an assistant deputy. After the ministry was merged into the justice ministry to form the ministry of justice and human rights, Bunyan continued his work in human rights, consecutively serving as director of human rights development in 2001 and director for human rights advancement cooperation in 2002.[1]

After holding human rights related positions in government ministries, by January 2005 he was posted as consul general in Vancouver.[4] During his tenure, he became the first consul general from Indonesia to visit Prince Rupert city, where he oversaw the grain-handling facilities used to export grain to Indonesia.[5] He was also involved in fundraising for the victims of the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake[6] and oversaw the construction of houses for people affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in Aceh.[7][8] He departed Vancouver in June 2008.[9]

Bunyan was sworn in as the director of North and Central America within the foreign ministry on 24 April 2008.[10] In August 2011, Bunyan was nominated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the ambassador of Indonesia to Bulgaria and Albania.[11] His nomination was approved by the House of Representative's first commission on 13 September after undergoing an assessment several days before.[12][13] He was installed on 2 March 2012[14] and presented his credentials to the President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev on 20 April 2012.[15]

As ambassador, he was tasked with bringing 10 investors to Indonesia; 15 joined him on his visit to Indonesia in October 2014.[3] He also managed to secure support from Bulgaria for Indonesia's nomination for the presidency of the Badminton World Federation in 2013[16] and oversaw the establishment of an Indonesian corner at the Sofia University in 2014.[17] The embassy also opened an honorary consulate in Varna in November 2015.[18] In Albania, Bunyan oversaw the plans for the establishment of an honorary consulate and a seminar on Albania-Indonesia economic relations with the economic ministry and the chamber of commerce.[19] At the end of his tenure as ambassador in January 2016, Bunyan received the Madara Horseman, 1st class medal from President Plevneliev[20] and from the Bulgarian Badminton Federation.[21] He briefly served as a functional diplomat, where he was involved in repatriating arrested prospective Hajj pilgrims in Philippines in 2016, before retiring from diplomatic service.[22]

Later life

After retirement, Bunyan was involved in various religious organizations, where he advised or directed the organization on international relations matters. As the secretary general of the Indonesian Society for Organization of Islamic Cooperation, he and other Indonesian interfaith leaders participated in a dialogue with the Vice President of the United States Mike Pence.[23] He is a member of the foreign relations and cooperation department of the Indonesian Mosque Council since 2017,[24] serving as its secretary until 2022,[25] and the international cooperation and relations agency of Muhammadiyah from 2022.[26] Within the Indonesian Ulema Council, Bunyan is the chairman of the organization's international cooperation and relations commission.[2]

Personal life

Bunyan is married to Aprilia Bodriyati and has a son, Ibnu Sulhan, who followed his footsteps as a diplomat.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "BUNYAN SAPTOMO, Drs, MA". Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Saptomo, Bunyan (8 January 2023). Tsani, Ali Farkhan (ed.). "Anwar Ibrahim: Pengamatan dan Harapan Saya". Miraj News Agency. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b Kurniawan, Bagus (14 October 2014). "Bunyan Saptomo, Sebelum Jadi Diplomat Bercita-cita Jadi Camat". Detik. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  4. ^ "New consul general from Indonesia thanks Canadians for tsunami aid". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C. 9 March 2005. p. B2. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ Ritchie, Leanne (12 May 2005). "Big grain customer checks out our port". Daily News. Prince Rupert, B.C. p. 1. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "Fundraiser to benefit victims of quake on Java". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C. 13 June 2006. p. D7. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "Britco to help rebuild Aceh". Langley Times. Langley, B.C. 23 July 2006. p. 3. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ Hooper, Roxanne (25 July 2006). "Indonesian people looking forward to awesome homes". Langley Advance. Langley, B.C. p. 5. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Institute of Asian Research Annual Report 08/09 (PDF). Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia. 2009. p. 47.
  10. ^ "Menlu Lantik 12 Pejabat Baru". Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  11. ^ Sikumbang, Zul (24 August 2011). Saputra, Desy (ed.). "Inilah daftar calon dubes RI yang ikut uji kelayakan" [Here is the list of Indonesian ambassador candidates who underwent a fit and proper test]. ANTARA News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  12. ^ Gabrielle, Maria; Mashur, Said (13 September 2011). "Komisi I DPR meloloskan 21 calon Dubes" [DPR Commission I passes 21 ambassador candidates]. BeritaSatu (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  13. ^ "21 Calon Dubes Disetujui DPR" [21 Ambassador Candidates Approved by the DPR]. Kompas.com (in Indonesian). 14 September 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  14. ^ Kristanti, Aryani (2 March 2012). "SBY Lantik Empat Duta Besar Luar Biasa" [SBY Swears In Four Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors]. Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  15. ^ RH, Priyambodo, ed. (23 April 2012). "Bulgarian President wishes to meet President Yudhoyono". Antara News. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Bulgaria-Balkan Dukung Calon RI Sebagai Presiden BWF" [Bulgaria-Balkans Support Indonesian Candidate for BWF President]. detikNews (in Indonesian). 14 February 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  17. ^ Suryanto, ed. (31 March 2014). "Bahasa Indonesia makin diminati di Sofia" [Indonesian language is increasingly popular in Sofia]. Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Откриха почетно консулство на Индонезия във Варна (снимки)" [Opened an honorary consulate of Indonesia in Varna (photos)]. Novini.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Indonesian Embassy in Bulgeia: President of Albania Called for Cooperation In Promoting Tolerance in Europe". Indonesia Government News. New Delhi. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
  20. ^ Gibbons, Zeynita (20 January 2016). Wibisono, Kunto (ed.). "Dubes RI terima penghargaan dari Presiden Bulgaria" [Indonesian Ambassador receives award from Bulgarian President]. Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  21. ^ Gibbons, Zeynita (19 January 2016). Wibisono, Kunto (ed.). "Dubes RI terima penghargaan Federasi Badminton Bulgaria" [Indonesian Ambassador receives award from Bulgarian Badminton Federation]. Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  22. ^ Abdurrahman, Muhammad Nur (4 September 2016). "Kemenlu Upayakan 9 WNI yang Masih Ditahan di Filipina Bisa Segera Dipulangkan" [Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attempts to Ensure 9 Indonesian Citizens Still Detained in the Philippines Can Be Sent Home Soon]. detikNews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Readout of the Vice President's Meeting with Interfaith Religious Leaders". Trump White House Archives. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Susunan Pengurus". Dewan Masjid Indonesia. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  25. ^ "Jusuf Kalla Kukuhkan Pengurus PP DMI Masa Khidmat 2017 - 2022 - DMI" (in Indonesian). 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  26. ^ "Struktur Pimpinan LHKI PP Muhammadiyah Periode 2022-2027 - Suara Muhammadiyah" (in Indonesian). 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  27. ^ Carrigg, David (4 November 2005). "Friday People". The Province. Vancouver, B.C. p. A2. Retrieved 19 November 2025 – via ProQuest.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.