Cendrawasih Kodam Says OPM's Release Of Employees In Puncak Papua Through 30 Minutes Of Negotiation

Illustration. One of the OPMs in Papua. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The XVII/Cenderawasih Military Regional Command stated that an employee of PT Jayakarta Jasa Bakti named Fandhika Maulana Fitra or Dhika who was held hostage by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) on Tuesday, September 17, had been released on Wednesday, September 18 at around 09.00 WIT.

"After negotiating between the security forces and the OPM for about 30 minutes, we managed to free Dika," said Expert Staff to the Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command, Infantry Colonel Lukas Sadipun in his statement, Wednesday, September 18, which was confiscated by Antara.

During OPM's involvement, said Sadipun, PT Jayakarta Jasa Bakti employees were needed properly and did not receive physical violence.

"They (OPM) took care of him and also gave him food so we gave them some money," he said.

He explained that currently Dhika is already at the Military District Command Headquarters (Kodim) 1714 Puncak Jaya and will then be taken to Timika on Thursday 19 September.

"Actually, this group that is still at odds with the Republic of Indonesia also wants development in the area," he said again.

For this reason, continued Sadipun, in the future, his party will approach community leaders and traditional leaders in Puncak Regency to have a dialogue so that development in the area can run smoothly.

Previously, an employee of PT Jayakarta Jasa Bakti named Fandhika Maulana Fitra or Dhika was held hostage by OPM on Tuesday, September 17 while heading to Kampung Kemburu, Puncak Regency, to conduct a survey in the context of lighting services using solar cells.