Susi Air Pilot Has Not Been Found, Papuan Police Chief Threatens Community Crimes To Help KKB

Armed Criminal Group (KKB) together with pilot Susi Air (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Pilot Susi Air from New Zealand, Phillip Mark Mehrtens, who has been held hostage by the Papuan KKB since last February, has yet to be found.

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Pol Mathius D. Fakhiri warned all elements of society and the government. If they are actively involved in the armed criminal group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya in carrying out their actions, they will face the legal process.

"I will not play games anymore and I have warned but they always play with it, if someone gives money to the KKB and fulfills the elements I say, check," Fakhiri said in his statement, Saturday, June 17.

Fakhiri said the Cartenz Peace Task Force team focused their search around the Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains Province to find Phillips Mehrtens.

"We have taken steps from the early stages to the last. I have also met with all parties and religious leaders, community leaders to be able to negotiate with the Egianus Kogoya group," he said.

Regarding the time limit shared by the Egianus Kogoya group, Fakhiri said that this would be a careful consideration for his party to see the process carefully in taking law enforcement steps.

"We don't want the impact that we have on the pilot to be fatal and of course we have mapped out the position on the pilot and will make a special meeting to take quick steps in the remaining time so that we can really do negotiations and law enforcement steps," he explained.

Furthermore, Fakhiri said that his party always prepares space to negotiate and for anyone who feels capable of communicating with the security forces will provide guarantees for please communicate but also have a time limit.

"I can't give quite a long time because we are always asked how long it will take, of course, this accuracy and accuracy that we always calculate well and pay attention to," he added.