Atenius Murip

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Atenius Murip (born April 20, 1974) is an Indonesian politician and former army aviation officer who has been the Regent of Jayawijaya since February 2025. He previously commanded the Jayawijaya Military District from 2022 to 2024, becoming the first indigenous Papuan to hold that post.

Murip was born in Megapura, Wamena, Jayawijaya, to Aren Murip, a priest, and Namlea Wetipo. Raised in a religious family, he pursued education in his village and later in Jayapura. He joined the Indonesian Army in 1995 as a noncommissioned officer in Kopassus and trained to become an Army pilot, earning his wings in 1998. He went on to command Flight C, 11th Army Strike Squadron, and piloted helicopters such as the Bell 205 A1 and Bell 412 EP. In 2017 he piloted a Bell 412 during Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations, delivering 16 parachutists and transporting senior officials.

Murip served in missions across the country, including Aceh (2005), Papua (2008), East Kalimantan (2013), and Poso (2018). In 2022 he was appointed commander of the Jayawijaya Military District, the first local Jayawijayan to hold the post. He resigned from the army in 2024 to run for Regent of Jayawijaya, with Ronny Elopere as his running mate, backed by several political parties.

He won the election with 109,945 votes (about 48.8%) and defeated the incumbent, Jhon Richard Banua; Banua’s bid to challenge the result was rejected by the constitutional court. Murip and other regional leaders were sworn in on February 20, 2025. He holds a law degree from the 17 August 1945 University in Semarang (Bachelor in 2006, Master in 2009) and is married to Idawati Waromi.