2 Months No Bright Spot, Komnas HAM Hopes Jokowi Forms Susi Air Pilot's Liberation Team

Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Mahrentens and the KKB took him hostage. (ANTARA)

JAYAPURA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Papua Representative hopes that President Joko Widodo (JokowI) can form a team to release Susi Air pilots so that they prioritize persuasive efforts because they involve elements of society and local agencies.

Head of the Papua Province Komnas HAM Representative Frits Bernard Ramandey in Jayapura, said the teams formed must later have the ability to communicate with all parties so that the release process can be faster.

"We encourage the formation of a team in order to carry out efforts to release Susi Air pilots, as well as how to stop the cycle of violence in Papua," Frits said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 20.

According to Frits, the team formed will be more representative who have the authority so as to report directly to President Jokowi.

"The pilot's hostage-taking has been more than two months, but until now there has not been a bright spot which has resulted in casualties, so it is very important to form the team," he said.

He explained that his party had held a meeting with the Pangdam and Kapolda to discuss persuasive approaches as to what to do so as not to cause violence again.

"In a situation like this the most responsible is the state. The state is represented by the government because it is in accordance with the direction from President Jokowi to the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief to resolve the case must prioritize persuasive efforts," he said again.

He added a message from the KKB to Komnas HAM Papua in a video that had circulated regarding the request for the withdrawal of the TNI-Polri from Bumi Cenderawasih.

"In addition, the KKB is willing to free the Philips pilot through diplomatic channels, so we ask that in the pilot release operation we prioritize negotiations," he said again.