Had A Discussion With TNI Commander, Member Of Commission I Said The Situation In Papua After The Hostage Of Susi Air Pilot As Quite Worrying

Member of Commission I DPR RI TB Hasanuddin. (Photo: Oji/nvl via dpr.go.id)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission I DPR RI TB Hasanuddin said that his party had a discussion with TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono regarding the situation in Papua after the burning and hostage-taking of the pilot of the Susi Air plane.

Hasanuddin revealed that the situation in Papua was already quite worrying even before the New Zealand pilot took hostage.

"Indeed, prior to the ambush on the pilot, we had discussions with the TNI commander and staff regarding Papua. The situation is indeed quite worrying," said Hasanuddin at the DPR Building, Wednesday, February 15.

"So regarding the Susi Air pilot, who is a New Zealand citizen, according to the latest information from both the Kodam and the Polda, he was taken hostage by an armed group after being ambushed at the airport. And now a team from the Regional Police, I have received information, will try to negotiate," he continued.

The PDIP politician said that, according to the announcement on behalf of the spokesperson for the Free Papua state, they stated that they would negotiate a barter for hostages with independence.

"And our stance, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is fixed. So we cannot negotiate the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia for the benefit of a few people. Because the OPM group can indeed be counted and has separatist interests. That is what we have caught so far," he explained.

Even so, Hasanuddin believes that under the coordination of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs there are currently efforts to take measured action. "Like what? Well, we'll wait later," he said.

So far, added Hasanuddin, the TNI-Polri's duties have been quite good, both for intelligence factors and for patrol movement factors and so on.

"I think the negotiation efforts are being carried out. Hopefully, the negotiations can go well. But not negotiating state sovereignty," he concluded.

Previously, the Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command Major General Muhammad Saleh Mustafa, confirmed that the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) had distributed photos and videos of Susi Air pilot Philips Mark Methrtens (37).

In the photos and videos spread on social media, you can see the Philips pilot with a number of people armed with long barrels. Based on the documentation, Saleh concluded that the pilot Philips was with the KKB led by Egianus Kagoya.

"In the circulating video footage, KST (the separatist terrorist group) has admitted to carrying out the terrorist act of burning the Susi Air plane and taking the Susi Air pilot hostage," said Saleh in a press release from Pendam XVII/Cenderawasih, Wednesday, February 15.

Saleh has also heard the demands of the KKB. The TNI-Polri, according to Saleh, are continuing to carry out a maximum search.

"Including the involvement of all parties, both religious leaders, community leaders, and traditional leaders as well as local government," said Saleh.