Susi Air Pilot Condition Arrested By OPM Egianus Kogoya Healthy, Army Chief Of Staff: We Continue To Negotiate Release

JAKARTA - Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak said the pilot Susi Air Philip Mark Merhtens who was held hostage by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) led by Egianus Kogoya is currently in good health.

Maruli said the operation to release the New Zealand national pilot was coordinated with the TNI Headquarters in collaboration with the National Police.

"The latest information is that the pilot is in good health," said Maruli when met by reporters after attending a Christmas celebration with the Indonesian Army in Jakarta, Monday, February 5, which was confiscated by Antara.

On the same occasion, the Army Chief of Staff ensured that Susi Air's pilot release operation would continue. The TNI cooperates with many parties, including traditional leaders, religious leaders, and local governments to negotiate with the tender to free Philip.

"If I follow developments from the TNI Headquarters, we will continue to make efforts to negotiate. That's what I heard the information about," said Maruli.

The Army Chief of Staff added that so far communication with the OPM has been unstable. "If I look at it all this time, the person is unstable. Sometimes he says A, tomorrow he says B is there again," Maruli said in response to a question about Susi Air's pilot release plan.

The West Papua National Liberation Army-The Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) plans to release Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Merhtens on February 7, 2024 or exactly a year since he was held hostage.

TPNPB-OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom said the reason for the release was because they believed there was no reason to detain Philip for the sake of humanity.

"There is no reason for pilots to be detained until the end of the world," Sebby said.

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto on several occasions emphasized that Susi Air's pilot release operation used a soft approach (soft approach) and hard (hard approach).

Agus explained that this soft approach prioritizes territorial development and cooperation with existing civilian agencies in Papua. Meanwhile, for a strong approach that uses weapons, according to Agus, it is the last option for the TNI to carry out OPM exemption operations.

"We avoid an explosion of weapons, even one point," said Agus Subiyanto on the sidelines of his activities in Jayapura, Papua, on December 8, 2023.