The Progress Of The Release Of New Zealand Pilots Hosted By OPM In Papua, TNI: Still Negotiating

New Zealand's Susi Air Pilot, Philips Marthens (topy), is being held hostage by the Papuan KKB to be OPM. (Ist)

JAKARTA - Head of the Indonesian Armed Forces Information Center (Kapuspen) Maj. Gen. Nugraha Gumilar emphasized that the TNI had never given up trying to free Philips Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot Susi Air who has been held hostage by OPM in Papua since February 2023.

Major General TNI Nugraha said that the release of pilot Philips could not be carried out in a short time because there were various factors under consideration, including one of which was related to field conditions in Papua.

"We are still negotiating," said Kapuspen TNI when met on the sidelines of its activities at the TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 3, confiscated by Antara.

When responding to the question of whether the TNI had given up on the kidnapping, he asserted, "No. There is no surrender for the TNI."

Philips' release, he said, could not be ascertained due to various considerations.

"There are many considerations. Yes, time cannot be decisive. Conditions on the ground that make us have a lot to consider," he said again.

The latest news regarding Philips' whereabouts appears in video recordings and written broadcasts from the OPM of the Egianus Kogoya group in April 2024.

In the broadcast, the OPM showed Philips' latest condition who was kidnapped on the runway of Paro District, Nduga, Papua Mountains, on February 27, 2023.

Philips at that time was in charge of flying Susi Air's commercial aircraft.

OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom said in his official broadcast that the OPM would release Philips in the negotiation process facilitated by the United Nations (UN).

It was also said that Philips would be released if the Indonesian government and the New Zealand government obeyed the demands of the OPM.

The Indonesian government has taken various ways to free Philips, mostly using a humanist approach.

In a meeting between Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in New Zealand on February 27, 2024, the two agreed that Philips' release should use a persuasive approach.

Ma'ruf said that the Indonesian government understands the concerns of the New Zealand government with Captain Philip Mehrtens' continued hostage by armed groups in Papua.

"I would like to reiterate that the Indonesian government is committed to seeking the release of the pilot as soon as possible. The main priority in this effort is the safety of Captain Philip Mehrtens," said the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia after meeting the New Zealand PM.

One of the persuasive approaches taken by Indonesia, one of which involves church figures in the Papua region.