The National Police Are Ancang-Preparing Legal Actions If The Negotiation Of Pilot Exemption Susi Air Deadlock

Illustration. KKB in the Tembaga Pura Mountains, Mimika, Papua. (Antarananews)

The Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Pol Dedi Prasetyo, said that currently the authorities are still trying to negotiate with the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) that took the pilot of Susi Air, Philip Mark Mehrtens. This negotiations involves Papuan figures.

"Currently, the joint TNI-Polri team is still communicating (with the release of Philip Mark). Negotiations continue to be carried out involving religious leaders, church leaders, local people to communicate with the KKB," said Dedi when met in Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday, February 19.

Efforts to release New Zealand's citizens by the authorities did not stop there. If persuasive efforts end in the deadlock, the TNI and Polri officers will not hesitate to take legal action against the KKB.

"Now waiting for further situations. If a deadlock occurs, then the last resort is law enforcement," he said.

For information, the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya is currently still holding New Zealand's Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Merthens hostage. The hostage has been carried out since Tuesday, February 7 last.

Before taking the pilot hostage, Egianus and his group burned the Susi Air plane with flight number PK-BVY. This incident occurred after the passenger plane landed at Paro Airfield.

Currently, the local community has left Paro and fled to Kenyam, the capital of Nduga Regency. The Paro resident walked to Kenyam, so the Acting Regent of Nduga asked for help in evacuating sick, old or female and children.