Vice President: Negotiations With KKB Egianus Kogoya To Prevent Casualties

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin gave a press statement in Fakfak, West Papua, Friday (14/7/2023). BETWEEN/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

Vice President: Negotiations With KKB Egianus Kogoya To Prevent Casualties

BINTUNI'S TELUK - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized that negotiations between the government and the Egianue Kogoya group were carried out to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens as well as prevent casualties.

"It is more of a negotiation, negotiations so that the hostages can be saved. So avoiding more victims. I think that," explained the Vice President on the sidelines of a working visit to the green open space park in Fakfak, West Papua, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 14.

The vice president said that if a step of attack is carried out directly using the military force frontally against the Egianus Kogoya group, it will risk causing many casualties.

Therefore negotiations were carried out, namely through local governments together with community leaders and religious leaders.

"Yesterday the TNI Commander joined us, he has also given an explanation of the plans. We will wait for the results," said the Vice President.

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono previously said that his party was continuing to monitor the progress of the negotiation process with local governments, including traditional leaders.

Commander Yudo emphasized that his party did not deploy troops in the release of the Susi Air pilot, because it avoided the potential loss of life, especially from the community.