Sinyo Harry Sarundajang (16 January 1945 – 13 February 2021) was an Indonesian politician. He served as governor of North Sulawesi for all but one month from 2005 to 2015. He was also a former Governor of North Maluku in 2002 and Maluku in 2002–2003. In February 2018, he was appointed by the President Joko Widodo as the ambassador to the Philippines, with concurrent accreditation to the Marshall Islands and Palau.
Personal life
Early life
Sarundajang was born in Kawangkoan, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi on 16 January 1945. He is the firstling of three brothers of Youtje Sarundajang and Yulian Liow. He married Deetje Adeline Laoh Tambuwun on 17 June 1969, and they have 2 sons and three daughters named Ivan, Fabian, Vanda, Eva, and Shinta. Ivan Sarundajang served as the vice regent of Minahasa Regency from 2013 to 2018, Vanda Sarundajang is a member of the People's Representative Council from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Fabian Sarundajang is a member of the Regional Representative Council, and Eva Sarundajang is member of People's Representative Council of North Sulawesi.
Education
Sarundajang was educated in Sam Ratulangi University and earned the Baccalaureate of state administration in 1968, and he received the bachelor's degree at the 17 Agustus 1945 University, Jakarta in 1970. In 1972, he continued his studies at the Institut international d'administration publique, France, and earned the postgraduate degree in territorial administration. In 2011, he earned a doctorate from the Gadjah Mada University.
Career
Mayor of Bitung
Sarundajang became the mayor of the administrative city of Bitung in 1986. Unlike cities in Indonesia, administrative city do not have any city council and is not an autonomous territory. Sarundajang attempted to propose Bitung into an autonomous city, and his proposal was accepted in 1990. Bitung officially became a city on 10 October 1990, and Sarundajang was inaugurated as mayor on the same day. Sarundajang became the definitive mayor after he was elected in 1991 (assumed office on 7 December 1991) and again in 1996 (assumed office on 7 December 1996). Sarundajang ended his term after he handed over his office to city secretary Lexie Gobel on 10 April 2000. Sarundajang, who served as mayor for over fourteen years, became the third longest-serving mayor in Indonesia after Suryatati Abdul Manan (17 years) and Soedarisman Poerwokoesoemo (19 years).
Acting Governor of North Moluccas
After ending his tenure in Bitung, Sarundajang was posted in Jakarta where he became the staff to the Minister of Internal Affairs. A year later, Sarundajang became the Inspector General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, replacing Andi Jalal Bachtiar. Sarundajang's tenure as inspector general was short lived as Sarundajang was sent to North Moluccas to become acting governor. His main task as acting governor was to pacify the region, which had been ridden with widespread religious violence between Muslims and Christians. Initially, most North Moluccans were cynical of his appointment and some were demanding his resignation from office.
The night after he arrived in North Maluku, a bomb exploded in the entrance of his hotel, just 25 meters away from his bed. In a 2004 interview, Sarundajang remarked that he did not fear the bomb, but the bomb made him realize the difficulties of his task of reconciliation. The next day, Sarundajang began his trip around North Moluccas, where he visited the houses of local community and religious leaders. Sarundajang shocked the leaders by entering their houses through the back door instead of the usual front door. In what he called as a show of good deed, Sarundajang drank a glass of water before conversing with the leaders each time he visited a house.
Sarundajang's approach was lauded by the local Muslims and Christians. As a sign of respect, Muslims in the region gave him the title of khalifa. After successfully negotiating with both sides, Sarundajang brought together both parties into a discussion. Both parties agreed to a reconciliation and a gubernatorial election was held shortly after. Thaib Armaiyn, a Muslim, was elected as the definitive governor and Sarundajang handed over his office to him on 29 September 2002.