Rukka Sombolinggi Biodata, Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Net Worth, Career & More
Rukka Sombolinggi is a woman of many roles. She is a wife, a mother, a farmer, a scholar, an activist, and a leader. She is also the first woman to be elected as the secretary-general of the Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), the world’s largest indigenous peoples’ organization that represents more than 2,200 communities and over 15 million people across Indonesia.
Rukka Sombolinggi Wiki/Bio, Ethnicity
| Name | Rukka Sombolinggi |
|---|---|
| Birth year | 1973 |
| Birth place | Sangalla, Sulawesi, Indonesia |
| Ethnicity | Toraja |
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Religion | Kejawen (a syncretic faith that mixes parts of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and animism) |
| Education | Bachelor degree from the Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University; Master degree in Political Science from the University of Chulalongkorn |
| Occupation | Secretary-general of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) |
| Spouse | Mansur Labada |
| Children | Four |
| Awards | Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2023) |
| Interests | Traveling, learning about different cultures and places, especially those related to indigenous peoples |
| Links | Instagram- @rsombolinggi7777 Linkedin- @rukka-sombolinggi-6b820164 Homepage- Newsunzip |
Birthday, Parents and Education
Rukka Sombolinggi was born in 1973 (age: 50 years, as of 2023) in Sangalla, a village in the highlands of Sulawesi, a starfish-shaped island in Indonesia. She belongs to the Toraja ethnic group, which is known for its elaborate funeral rituals and its strong cultural identity
Rukka grew up in a family that was involved in the indigenous rights movement since the early 1990s. Her parents hosted a meeting in 1993 that is often cited as the genesis of the movement in Indonesia. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Network of Defender of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Jaringan Pembela Hak-Hak Masyarakat Adat – JAPHAMA), which later became one of the main groups that convened the first congress of indigenous peoples in Indonesia in March 1999, during which AMAN was established.
Rukka completed her bachelor degree from the Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University in Makassar, Sulawesi. She then pursued her master degree in Political Science at the University of Chulalongkorn in Bangkok, Thailand, where she wrote her thesis on the political participation of indigenous women in Indonesia.
Marriage and Kids
Rukka Sombolinggi married Mansur Labada, a fellow activist and leader of the Moronene ethnic group in Southeast Sulawesi, in 1994. Mansur was also one of the founders of JAPHAMA and AMAN.
However, their marriage was not without challenges. Rukka recalled that when she got married, her husband forbade her to make money. He wanted her to stay at home and take care of their children. She said that she had to negotiate with him and convince him that she could do both.
She also faced a difficult situation when she was pregnant with their third child in August 1998. Her husband was jailed for leading the resistance against the expulsion of the Moronene people from their ancestral lands in Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park by the local government and security forces. The eviction was widely condemned as a grave violation of human rights and a brutal treatment of indigenous peoples.
Rukka had to raise their three children alone while also fighting for her husband’s release and for the rights of the Moronene people. She said that she received support from her parents, her friends, and her fellow activists. She also said that she learned a lot from her husband, who taught her about the struggles and aspirations of indigenous peoples.
Rukka Sombolinggi and Mansur are still married and have four children. They live in a modest house in Bogor, West Java, where they also grow their own food. She said that she tries to balance her work and family life, and that she often brings her children to her activities and events. She said that she wants her children to learn about their roots and their responsibilities as indigenous peoples.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5′ 2″
- Weight: 53 kg (117 lbs)
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: 33-25-34 inches
- Skin color: Fair
Career and Achievements
Rukka Sombolinggi joined AMAN in 1999 as a staff member. She worked on various issues, such as land rights, women’s empowerment, education, health, and climate change. She also represented AMAN in national and international forums, such as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the World Social Forum.
In 2007, Rukka Sombolinggi left AMAN to join the UNDP Regional Indigenous Peoples Programme at the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, as a program specialist. She returned to AMAN in early 2011 as a project manager. Later that year, she was assigned as the chair of the organizing committee of the fourth Indigenous Peoples Congress in Halmahera, North Maluku, which gathered more than one thousand indigenous representatives from across Indonesia.
From 2009 to 2012, she was also a member of the executive council of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), a regional network of indigenous organizations and movements in Asia, representing Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor Leste.
In 2017, she made history by becoming the first woman to be elected as the secretary-general of AMAN. She was chosen by the delegates of the fifth Indigenous Peoples Congress in Tanjung Gusta, North Sumatra, which was attended by more than 1,500 indigenous leaders and supporters. She said that her election was a recognition of the role and contribution of indigenous women in the movement, and that she hoped to inspire more women to take leadership positions in their communities and organizations.
As the secretary-general of AMAN, Rukka is responsible for overseeing the operations and programs of the organization, as well as leading the advocacy and campaigns for the recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in Indonesia. She also serves as the spokesperson and representative of AMAN in various national and international platforms and dialogues.
Some of the achievements and challenges that Rukka Sombolinggi has faced as the secretary-general of AMAN include:
- Securing the passage of the Law on the Recognition and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (PPHMA) in 2018, after more than two decades of lobbying and advocacy. The law is the first of its kind in Indonesia and provides a legal framework for the recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, such as the right to self-determination, the right to ancestral lands and natural resources, the right to cultural identity and expression, and the right to participate in decision-making processes that affect them.
- Strengthening the capacity and solidarity of the indigenous peoples’ movement in Indonesia, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected indigenous communities. Rukka Sombolinggi has initiated and coordinated various initiatives, such as the AMAN Peduli program, which provides humanitarian assistance and health services to indigenous communities affected by the pandemic, and the AMAN Bersama program, which facilitates the exchange of information and experiences among indigenous communities on how to cope with and recover from the pandemic.
- Expanding the network and partnership of AMAN with other civil society organizations, government agencies, media outlets, academic institutions, and international organizations, in order to promote and support the rights and interests of indigenous peoples in Indonesia. Rukka has also established and maintained good relations with influential figures and leaders, such as the president, the vice president, the ministers, the parliament members, the governors, the mayors, and the religious leaders, in order to advocate for the inclusion and participation of indigenous peoples in the development and governance of the country.
- Facing various threats and challenges from the state and non-state actors who oppose or undermine the rights and interests of indigenous peoples in Indonesia. Rukka has been subjected to intimidation, harassment, defamation, and criminalization by some parties who are against the recognition and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights, especially in relation to land and natural resource conflicts. She has also faced resistance and discrimination from some patriarchal and conservative elements within the indigenous peoples’ movement and society, who question her legitimacy and authority as a woman leader.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $600,000 |
| 2022 | $400,000 |
| 2021 | $300,000 |
Rukka Sombolinggi lives a simple and humble lifestyle, in accordance with her indigenous values and principles. She does not own any luxurious or extravagant assets, such as cars, houses, or jewelry. She prefers to spend her money on the needs and welfare of her family and her community, as well as on supporting the causes and campaigns of the indigenous peoples’ movement. She also likes to donate and contribute to various social and humanitarian causes, especially those related to indigenous peoples, women, and children.
