Kalatiku Paembonan

Kalatiku Paembonan (16 November 1953 – 8 August 2024) was an Indonesian politician, bureaucrat, and lecturer who served as the Regent of North Toraja from 2016 to 2021. Before entering politics, Kalatiku worked in the Department of Home Affairs and held several high-ranking positions in the department. He then became a lecturer at the Institute of Public Governance before resigning to stand in the North Toraja regency election.

Early life and education Paembonan was born on 16 November 1953, in Rantepao, North Toraja. He completed his basic education at the Malango Christian Primary School in 1965, the Rantepao Junior High School in 1969, and the Takalar State High School in 1972. Upon completing high school, Kalatiku moved to Makassar and studied economics at the Hasanuddin University in Makassar (then Ujungpandang), graduating in 1981. During his time in the university, Kalatiku was active in student government, where he became the deputy chair of the student's council and the chairman of Makassar's branch of the Indonesian Christian Student Movement.

Paembonan earned his master's degree in administration and public policy from the University of Indonesia during his civil service career. His thesis discussed the development of civil servants in the regional management of the Sukabumi city government. He received his doctorate from the Padjadjaran University in 2013.

Upon receiving his master's degree in 2000, Paembonan was promoted to the head of the functional training center in the department.

A year later, he was transferred to the directorate general of community development as director for community training in 2001 and the director for community economic enterprises in 2002. In the same year, he was appointed the secretary of the directorate general, the second highest position in the directorate general. He retired in 2010 and began lecturing at the Institute of Public Governance. Paembonan failed to proceed to the second round of the election as he did not receive more than thirty percent of the vote.

Paembonan ran again for the Regent of North Toraja in the 2015 local election, with Papuan-based businessman Yosia Rinto Kadang as his running mate. Paembonan managed to secure support for his candidacy from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Paembonan won the election with a total of 71,120 votes (54.2% of the total number of votes).

Paembonan attempted to secure a second term as regent with physician Etha Rimba Tandi Payung as his running mate. He received support from his party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, as well as Gerindra Party, Perindo Party, and Indonesian Justice and Unity Party. He placed second in the election with 52,706 votes, or 38.4% of the total votes. In the 2024 Indonesian general election, Paembonan ran as a candidate for the House of Representatives from the South Sulawesi III electoral district but failed to secure enough votes for a seat.

Personal life and death Paembonan was married to Linda Christine and had a child named Rannusary Paembonan. Paembonan was a Protestant Christian.