Regarding The Hostage Of Susi Air Pilots, Papua Police Chief: Hostage Safety Is The Main Factor

The KKB led by Egianus Kogoya took Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Merthens hostage. (ANTARA-Personal Documents)

PAPUA - Papua Police Chief Inspector General Pol Fakhiri emphasized that the safety of New Zealand hostages who are currently still handling the Armed Criminal Group (KBB) led by Egianus Kogoya is the main factor.

"Various steps have been taken by both the Nduga Regional Government and the TNI-Polri while still prioritizing negotiations. Various steps have been taken to free Phillip Mark Mehrtens have been explained when receiving a visit from the New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Kevin Jeffery Burnet," said Papua Police Chief Inspector General Pol Mathius Fakhiri in Jayapura, Wednesday, February 7, quoted by Antara.

In a meeting accompanied by the Head of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Kombes Faizal Rahmadani and the Head of the Cartenz Peace Law Enforcement Operations, Kombes I Gusti Era Adhinata, the Kapolda admitted that even though the hostage-taking of New Zealand citizens had been going on for a year, his party still put forward negotiations and hoped Phillip Mark Mehrtens would be released safely.

"We need patience from all parties, including fellow journalists, because the TNI-Polri assisted by all elements, be it community leaders, church leaders continue to try to free Phillip," he said.

The Papuan Police Chief admitted that at the meeting the New Zealand Ambassador expressed his support for sovereignty where Papua is an inseparable part of Indonesia.

With this support, what Benny Wenda and Sebby Sembon conveyed was baseless

"No country provides support for the issue of Papua's independence abroad so that what is conveyed by using the Papua issue, the issue of politicization for the benefit of Papua's independence must stop, and the TNI-Polri together with the parties will continue to try to free the hostages until they are free in a safe condition," he said.

Phillip Mark Mehrtens, who works as a Susi Air pilot, has been held hostage by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya since 7 February 2023 shortly after landing his plane at the Paro airport, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains.