Christina Maria Rantetana Explained

Christina Maria Rantetana
Office:Member of People's Representative Council
Term Start:1 October 1997
Term End:30 September 2004
Allegiance: Indonesia
Branch: Indonesian Navy
Rank: Rear Admiral
Birth Place:Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Birth Date:24 July 1955
Death Place:Jakarta, Indonesia
Party:Gerindra
Alma Mater:University of Indonesia
Tulane University

Christina Maria Rantetana (24 July 1955 – 31 July 2016) was an officer of the Indonesian Navy, where she was the first woman to hold a star rank.

Early life and career

Rantetana was born in the town of Makale in Tana Toraja Regency on 24 July 1955. After completing high school at a Catholic institution in 1974, she obtained a diploma in general care before joining the Indonesian military in 1979. She later obtained a bachelor's degree in public health from the University of Indonesia and a master's degree in the same subject from Tulane University.[1]

Naval career

In the Navy, Rantetana became a representative of the military and police (TNI/Polri) faction in the People's Representative Council for two periods, 1997-1999 and 1999-2004. In the latter period, she was the faction's secretary.[1] On 1 November 2002, she was promoted to commodore (a one-star rank position), becoming the first woman to achieve that rank in the Indonesian Navy.[1]

She was further promoted to rear admiral in June 2013, when she was assigned to the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs as an expert on ideology and constitutional affairs.[2] The following month, she was reassigned to TNI headquarters, as she was approaching her retirement.[3]

Death

Rantetana died in a navy hospital in Jakarta on 31 July 2016.[4] She was buried in a military-accompanied traditional Toraja funeral, where her body was placed in a hollowed out cavity 30 meters up a cliff accompanied by salvo shots.[5] [6]

Personal life

She had five children, and she took part in the construction of the Jesus Buntu Burake statue in Tana Toraja.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Jenderal Perempuan Penjaga Ideologi . 13 October 2019 . Reformata . 30 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130518034845/http://reformata.com/news/view/6425/jenderal-perempuan-penjaga-ideologi . 18 May 2013 . id.
  2. News: 17 Pati TNI Naik Pangkat . 13 October 2019 . Poskota News . 28 June 2013 . id.
  3. News: Puluhan Jenderal Pensiun, Mabes TNI Mutasi Perwira Tinggi . 13 October 2019 . Tribunnews.com . 11 July 2013 . id.
  4. News: Sumbangsih Christina Rantetana untuk Indonesia Sangat Besar . 13 October 2019 . Berita Satu . 1 August 2016 . id.
  5. News: Begini Suasana Pemakaman Laksda Christina di Buntu Tangki Toraja, Liang Setinggi 30 Meter . 13 October 2019 . Tribun Timur . 10 August 2016 . id-ID.
  6. News: Abdurrahman . Muhammad Nur . Christina, Wanita Jenderal Pertama TNI AL Dimakamkan secara Adat di Tana Toraja . 13 October 2019 . detiknews . 10 August 2016 . id.